Work To Finally Begin On Long-Awaited Rangiora After-Hours

After years of delays, a South Island healthcare provider
is ready to build a new after-hours medical facility in
Rangiora, Canterbury.

South Link Health chief
executive Karl Andrews said work can finally begin on the
promised medical centre at the Rangiora Hospital and Health
Hub site in Ashley Street.

Local residents have been
growing frustrated by the wait for after-hours healthcare in
North Canterbury, with local MP Matt Doocey demanding action
in February on the stalled project.

The Waimakariri
District Council confirmed it will invest up to $3.5 million
in the medical facility at a closed-door session earlier
this week.

Work is expected to begin soon, with
signage, fencing, and sod-turning expected in the coming
weeks.

South Link Health is proposing to build a new
medical centre, which will include general practice services
seven days a week with after-hours and urgent healthcare,
radiology services including ultrasound, CT and MRI scans,
and a pharmacy.

Mr Andrews said he anticipated the
project will take 14 months to complete.

‘‘We are
ready to deliver this vital facility for the
community,’’ he said.

‘‘After facing several
challenges, including Covid-19 delays, rising construction
costs and commercial investment challenges, progress will
soon be visible.’’

South Link Health was formed by
the Dunedin-based South Link Education Trust in 2010 as a
not-for-profit healthcare provider.

South Link
Education Trust will loan fund 50 percent of the
construction costs, with the council loan funding the
remaining 50 percent.

The trust will be responsible
for repaying both loans.

Trust chairperson and chief
clinical advisor Murray Tilyard said the organisation is
thrilled to partner with the council on this ‘‘vital
initiative’’.

‘‘North Canterbury urgently
needs robust, seven-day-a-week extended primary healthcare
services, and we are committed to delivering
them.’’

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said the
council has received independent advise from PwC New Zealand
(Pricewaterhouse Coopers), which confirmed its own
feasibility study.

There will be no cost to
ratepayers, he said.

Under the agreement with South
Link Health, Mr Gordon and Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson
will represent the council on the project delivery group to
oversee the build.

‘‘This is an essential step
forward for healthcare in North Canterbury,’’ Mr Gordon
said.

‘‘Our communities have long been waiting for
access to urgent and after-hours healthcare, and now we can
ensure it will happen.’’

Mr Gordon paid tribute to
retired Rangiora GP Dr Lorna Martin, who has been a driving
force behind the project over several
years.

‘‘Although she has retired and is no longer
directly involved, her unwavering support has been
invaluable in helping us reach this point.

‘‘I
would also like to recognise Murray Tilyard’s personal
commitment to this initiative.

‘‘His passion and
perseverance have been pivotal in bringing this project to
fruition.’’

The Ministry of Health entered into a
lease agreement with South Link Health in 2021 to build an
after-hours facility at the Ashley Street site.

But it
has been beset by delays, due in part to
Covid-19.

South Link Health had been trying to extend
the lease from 35-years to 50-years to ensure a better
return for its funding partners.

But this would have
required Te Whatu Ora Health NZ to subdivide the site in
accordance with the Resource Management Act.

The
council has already issued resource and building consents to
allow the build to proceed.

Last year, South Link
Health announced the merger of its two Rangiora-based
practices in anticipation of the new
facility.

• For now, North Canterbury residents
  requiring urgent after-hours care are advised to contact
  their GP to speak to a triage nurse, or access a telehealth
  provider (for a charge).

Durham Medical in
Rangiora and Amberley Medical Centre offer Saturday morning
clinics.

Ka Ora Telecare, which offers phone or video
consultations with a doctor, is available to some North
Canterbury residents, go to kaora.co.nz/app/services/sub-services/3.

Residents
can also access the Pegasus 24-Hour Surgery in Christchurch
or call 111 in an emergency.

LDR is local body
journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On
Air.

© Scoop Media