The centre shut for the last time at its old site on Queen St at 6pm on Friday, April 26, and by 8am the next morning, its urgent care service was fully functional in the new building on the corner of St Aubyn St West and King St, Hastings.
"This was all because we had a great team who said they could, and they would and they did. By that Monday, all our of our suites were up and running and we were pretty much fully functional," he said.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst opened the building and unveiled a plaque in recognition.
"You are providing our very diverse community with health services which will improve their mental and physical wellbeing," she said.
"There is no question that we have changing demographics of our people, both young and old and they need a strong quality of care and support and love."
But for the five founders, including Paddy Twigg, the building symbolises a continuation of the vision they established in 2002.
"The vision is still the same, the patient is at the centre of everything we do. The person coming in needs to have some kind of ownership, a feeling of belonging when they come in," the shareholder said.
He said the concept of splitting the services into separate suits "worked so well".
"When people come in, they're not just a number, they come to a receptionist who recognises them and knows them and welcomes them. Their doctor and their nurse are together in rooms that are next door to each other so the whole transaction that people have when they come here is much more personal and I think that's so important for their health.
Southern Community Laboratories Hawke's Bay general manager, Andrew Milne said they are "really pleased to be a part of this fantastic new building".
"It's great to have a presence in such a large facility. And we are getting good feedback from our patients about the new facility."
