Nurse-run clinic planned for Masterton

Masterton nurse Trish Wilkinson is planning to establish a not-for-profit community health centre run mostly by nurses.

A Masterton nurse is planning to establish a new health clinic in the centre of town.

Trish Wilkinson said it would be a not-for-profit community health centre and mainly run by nurses.

It was about providing access - the centre could be open in the evenings for routine services like smear tests, providing more flexibility for patients, particularly those working full time, she said.

"There would be more outreach nursing ... people could go into workplaces, taking the service to the people."

She said although it would be "essentially nurse run", there would be a doctor available two days a week and possibly a nurse practitioner - an advanced practice registered nurse.

Ms Wilkinson said it was a similar model to the Eketahuna Health Centre which is managed by a trust which employs two registered nurses.

"There's nothing similar in Masterton."

Ms Wilkinson, who has worked in health for 48 years, said she had been thinking about it for some time.

It was not being created to rival current services, she said.

"It's complementary to what we have now."

Ms Wilkinson said it would fit the criteria for Compass Health, the public health organisation for Wairarapa, and be eligible for Government funding.

She is also in talks with UCOL about how the centre could employ graduates.

"They put out 30 nursing grads a year and there's no jobs for them."

Ms Wilkinson is looking for feedback from the public and interest for positions on the trust's board.

Feedback can be made to info@phcm.nz