June 28, 2010

An Innovative Joint Approach to Health Care on the West Coast

St John and the West Coast District Health Board (WCDHB) are pleased to announce that they have finalised a collaborative agreement for the new combined ambulance station and medical centre at Franz Josef.

This facility will be located on a site that St John has already purchased for this purpose.

With four clinic rooms and a dedicated treatment room, the DHB portion of the facility will be larger than other rural clinics, reflecting the growing population in Franz Josef.  The ambulance station includes garaging for two ambulances and sleeping accommodation for ambulance staff.

A tender process is currently being advertised by District Health Board architects, and will close at the end of July.

The project is the first of its type for the West Coast.  The modern functional building will offer a significant benefit to the staff of both organisations and the local community.

WCDHB General Manager - Hospital and Support Services, Wayne Champion said that "it is fantastic that this project is now proceeding as it will dramatically improve the quality and viability of the health service in Franz Josef.  The collaborative arrangement with St John is an example of the type of thinking required in order to ensure the ongoing viability of health services in remote communities such as Franz Josef."

St John Regional General Manager David Thomas said St John was pleased to be working with the District Health Board on this project.  "St John is committed to providing the best quality care to the West Coast community, and by working together with the District Health board we will achieve this."

Wayne Champion continued, "The two organisations have worked together to ensure the legal complexities relating to this new building are worked through in detail.  There has been a lot of discussion because the legal framework is quite complex, however it was important that we took the time to get it right as the legal arrangements need to form the basis for a working relationship which will last at least as long as the building itself and which may also form a basis for future health service arrangements in other in other West Coast communities."

"Construction timeframes will not be known for certain until tenders have been received and evaluated by both organisations.  All going well (allowing time for tender responses, evaluation, contract negotiation, consent applications, approvals, etc) construction should commence in spring 2010".

Bryan Jamieson
Community Liaison Officer
West Coast DHB
PO Box 387
Greymouth 7840
Phone: (03) 769-0499, Extn 2665#
Mobile: 027 245-9595
Email: