The doctor working from home a week after setting up new practice
Thursday, 19 August 2021
A new general practice in Blenheim established to provide for Māori and vulnerable people had just opened its doors when the country moved into lockdown.
Manu Ora on Howick Rd “quietly opened” on August 9, with an official opening set to take place on Wednesday.
However, the opening was postponed when the country moved into level 4 lockdown at 11.59pm on Tuesday following positive Covid-19 cases reported in New Zealand.
Manu Ora mātanga rata (general practitioner) Dr Sara Simmons said despite the lockdown, the practice was very much open for those that needed it.
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It meant most of Simmons’ work had switched to online, and from home.
“As with all general practice and health services, we are open and available to help patients when they need it during lockdown,” Simmons said.
“The first line of contact is virtually, so either phone or video consult, nobody can come in without having that contact first. Because we need to try and minimise the in-person contact with this Delta variant, which seems to be a whole different beast really.”
Simmons said the practice had a couple of virtual consultations on Wednesday.
They included dealing with prescriptions and “that sort of thing. We're not in the same position as some of the other practices who have thousands of patients they’re dealing with,” she said.
Manu Ora was established by Māori health provider Te Piki Oranga, Simmons and Dr Rachel Inder, with support from the Marlborough Primary Health Organisation and Rangitane o Wairau.
The practice was designed to be an affordable health service for whānau and had already taken on patients that otherwise did not have a GP in Blenheim.
“We set up [Manu Ora] to fill the gap that has been there for a long time,” Simmons said.
“The current system doesn’t really enable good quality care to be provided at low cost for Māori and other vulnerable groups.”
The practice was a charitable, not-for-profit organisation.
“We hopefully will get to a point where we are sustainable, but everything will be reinvested in patient, whānau and staff care,” Simmons said.
“It’s had its challenges along the way and there are still a few to get through.
“But it’s a really exciting prospect to be able to really look at providing the care that we want to be able to provide, looking at all aspects of health and wellbeing, and to do that hopefully with a bit more time.”
Dr Simmons said in setting up the practice, they put themselves in the shoes of Wairau whānau.
“We listened to our whānau, and then created our systems with them at the centre,” she said.
“We are flexible and fluid, and will respond to the needs of the community and take guidance from iwi and whānau about what the gaps are and how can we help fill them.
“For example, as a charity, our services are cheaper and our appointments are longer, whānau lead the development of their own health management plan, and we include other health providers in our mahi to make sure care plans are co-ordinated, rather than being at odds with each other.”
Dr Simmons said they had been humbled at the support from the community so far.
Te Piki Oranga tumuaki (leader) Anne Hobby said having specific primary healthcare options for Māori was crucial if the country was going to turn Māori health statistics around.
“With most GP rooms in Wairau full, Manu Ora is an affordable option people can join and feel safe, while our team works with them to help them improve their health.”
Manu Ora has three GPs, and three nurses. Every lunchtime, Te Piki Oranga kaimahi (workers) and people from other health providers can come to Manu Ora to discuss patients’ health plans.