Tena koutou katoa

Good afternoon and thank you for the invitation to attend the opening of the new Warkworth Integrated Family Health Centre here today. And a particular thank you to the partners of Kawau Bay Health Partnership, Mayor Penny Webster and Ngati Manuhiri and Ngati Whatua, all of whom have played an important role in the establishment of this centre.

I would like to commend you on the hard work you have put into upgrading this facility. The whole community, from Puhoi to Wellsford, from coast to coast, will benefit from the new healthcare services you will provide.

Primary care offers the best way to deliver timely healthcare in the community. International research demonstrates that health systems which have strong primary care services have much better health outcomes, and for a lower cost, than those focussing only on specialist or tertiary care.

In order to improve New Zealand's primary care services, the Government is focusing on putting patients first, offering care closer to home and providing integrated care. Simply put, we are keen to realise the potential of primary care beyond cheaper doctors' fees.

As announced by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Ryall, the Government plans to fast track the implementation of the Primary Health Care Strategy through the development of initiatives outlined in the Better, Sooner, More Convenient policy.

These initiatives are intended to trigger significant improvements in the way health and other services are delivered within communities so that services are relevant to the communities they serve. With this improved service delivery it will be more convenient for the public to access a wider range of services in their communities.

This includes devolving some hospital services to primary care so that more treatment and diagnostic services are available in community settings and establishing Integrated Family Health Centres, like this.

Integrated Family Health Centres are expected to provide a full range of services in the community. This is likely to include some services currently provided in hospitals, specialist assessments, minor surgery, walk in access, chronic care management, increased nursing and allied health services as well as selected social services.

It will also mean having more specially trained health professionals who can act as case managers for patients with chronic conditions and who can work with health and non-health agencies, particularly for families at risk.

A wide range of clinicians need to be available and supported to work in a multidisciplinary environment. This then provides a greater scope to coordinate the best care for patients.

Local provision and increased coordination of services will benefit those with chronic conditions requiring long term care. Care should be provided at levels appropriate to need, including consideration of the needs of the frail elderly and other vulnerable populations.

Last week an invitation was launched for Expressions of Interest from primary health care providers around the country who are interested in implementing these initiatives.

It is the Government's intention that the development of these initiatives will commence in this current financial year, with new enhanced services reaching up to thirty percent of all New Zealanders over the next three years.

We are committed to implementing significant improvements in order to deliver a more personalised primary care system.

It is important however to realise that there is not a "one size fits all' fix for healthcare. Before you can offer solutions, you need to understand the diversity of the problem. Finding out what patients need is integral to providing the correct spectrum of care and it is great that the doctors from Kawau Bay Health Partnership did just that - they talked to the community and asked them what they wanted. This approach has helped create the basis for a healthcare centre which is tailored specifically to the needs of this unique community.

For rural areas like Warkworth, easy and timely access to healthcare is not always straight forward. Travelling distances and a lack of more specialist services are two obstacles which can stand in the way of someone receiving the care they need. In the case of Warkworth, the nearest hospital is at minimum forty five minutes away.

By diversifying primary care, patients will no longer need to travel to urban centres. The increase of services proposed by this Centre includes a pharmacy, nurse-led clinics and even a minor surgery theatre. These services will be a very valuable addition to your community.

It is also exciting to think that service improvements will not stop here - I have been informed that through the second phase of development, the local community is likely to have audiology services and midwifery services at their doorstep.

The plan to include counselling services in the second stage will also be of huge benefit to the community.

The opportunity to come to a ‘one stop shop' for all your health needs, close to home and receive top quality healthcare is something New Zealanders want and need. We want to see primary care services that are more accessible, that provide services closer to home, that improve health outcomes and that make kiwis healthier.

I would like to once again congratulate you on your initiative in creating this new facility. Thank you for inviting me here today.