Te Oranganui's doctors and patients like their new home at the Tupoho Community Complex, GP Tony Frith says.
The iwi health authority's three GPs moved to refurbished premises in Wanganui's Wicksteed/Campbell St complex in September. Their presence there was celebrated by the health authority's 140 staff on September 16.
Themedical centre, formerly called Te Waipuna, was the last of the organisation's five branches to move to the complex. It has three doctors - Dr Frith, Dr Anshu Prasad and Dr David Rodgers. They're from the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States respectively.
"We have quite different backgrounds, which I think is very helpful," Dr Frith said.
Each doctor has their own room in one wing of the former Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic buildings. There's an extra room for visiting consultants, and a spacious reception area.
The doctors have 5000 patients between them, many of them with more than average health needs. The same doctors also have a GP service in Waverley on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Another service in Ohakune is open four days a week and has its own doctor, nurse and receptionist.
Dr Frith said patients really liked the new space in Wanganui. It was more spacious and tidier and made them feel valued.
It also helped staff work together and offer patients more seamless care, service manager Sharlene Tapa-Mosen said. They could have meetings more easily, and involve patients in them.
