News and Notices

More care closer to home


More healthcare services are now available at the Marlborough Community Health Hub, with the near-completion of its expansion this month.

NMH Chief Executive Peter Bramley says that the expansion allows for better integration of services.

“Our community health hubs in Blenheim and Nelson typify the community-facing service model we want more of, and that our communities are asking for,” Peter says.

Marlborough Primary Health Organisation chief executive Beth Tester said roughly 17,000 people visited the existing half of the health hub each year.

Beth says one of the benefits of the expanded services is that patients can be treated by primary health practitioners instead of having to go into hospital. For example, patients with conditions like chronic, obstructive pulmonary disease can be treated closer to home and with integrated services available to them.

The new services are:

  • the NMH Needs Assessment Service (Support Works)
  • Maori healthcare provider Te Piki Oranga
  • a GP practice and pharmacy
  • public health nurses, clinical nurse specialists and district nurses

District nurses have moved to the hub from Wairau Hospital, and current patients of the service have been contacted directly. All contact and referral phone numbers remain the same.

New car parking on Arthur St provides an extra 37 parks for hub visitors, two of which are mobility parks. In additional to this there are seven parks allocated to hub visitors on Queen St.