A hub of healing
Serving high-needs communities in South Auckland
Starting at the bottom
Mary Thompson considers herself in relatively good health. But when she turned 65, her health issues became more prominent. “When I got to my age, things started getting complicated,” she says.
She recalls a day when she was unwell, feeling faint and nauseated. As a South Auckland resident, Thompson turned to the Whānau Ora Community Clinic.
“A doctor at the clinic checked my blood pressure, and it was off the rails. He said I needed to get to the hospital and rang an ambulance straight away,” says Thompson. “Apparently, I had a heart attack and they found that I had blocked arteries so they put stents in.”
The swift and decisive action of Thompson’s doctor at the clinic may have saved her life. “He didn’t hesitate to get me to the hospital. He was very professional and very efficient,” she says.
Founding the hub of healing
In 2014, George Ngatai and his wife Raewyn Bhana founded the Whānau Ora Community Clinic to cater to the health and wellbeing needs of families and communities. “From the start, the clinic’s aim was to provide quality medical service at an affordable price to the community,” says Dr Vanshdeep Tangri, clinical director at the Whānau Ora Community Clinic.
George grew up in Whakatane and Raewyn in Kaeo. Both George and Raewyn, who are the youngest son and youngest daughter of 8 siblings, always had to think about whether their families could afford to see the doctor and this was a key factor for the establishment of the Whānau Ora Community Clinic.
Since its humble beginnings, the clinic has established practices across the country — from Kaeo in the Far North to Christchurch in the South Island. “The clinic has grown quickly and makes a great contribution to all the communities it’s involved in,” Tangri says.
Yet running a community clinic is no easy feat. Tangri highlights the flu season and the Covid-19 pandemic as the main challenges affecting their daily operations at the moment. “The way we’re overcoming these challenges is by getting more staff to cover shifts and also supporting each other and our patients,” he says.
The Whānau Ora Community Clinic’s funding model is based on capitation funding. “When we have patients enrolled with us, we get a certain amount of funding every year for each patient,” says Tangri. “The main thing for us is to keep it affordable for our patients, so we have a low-cost model for high-quality services.”
Dr Vanshdeep Tangri, a GP at Whānau Ora Community Clinic discusses the winter flu season.
Dr Vanshdeep Tangri, a GP at Whānau Ora Community Clinic discusses the winter flu season.
The road to health
During Thompson’s period of recovery after her heart attack, she visited the Whānau Ora Community Clinic for follow-up checkups. “They’re very good at sending reminders of when you’re due for checkups and blood tests, and the follow-ups after that if there was anything wrong with the tests,” she says. “The doctors are really thorough and they would refer you to a specialist when they knew there was a problem.”
More than addressing medical needs, Thompson says the clinic is devoted to its communities. “They go above and beyond, and the community benefits from it,” she says. “That’s just part of who they are — they’re community-minded people. They do things like Christmas dinners for people who have nowhere to go, and they constantly give back to the community. They’re all about helping people, giving good service in every aspect and in every way.”
The centre of the community
In the southern suburb of Takanini in Auckland, the Whānau Ora Community Clinic is fast becoming a central hub for affordable, family-friendly services. While it provides medical services such as doctor and nurse services, counsellors, and physiotherapy, the clinic also offers other community services, including employment advice and support, social work support, early childhood services, food bank services, and Justice of the Peace services.
“We care deeply about our community, and our staff goes a long way to help our patients,” says Tangri. “We have a real heart for what we’re doing, and that comes across all the services we deliver.”
Additionally, the clinic has Covid-19 response services in Kaikohe, Northcote, Balmoral, Wiri, Takanini, Pukekohe, and Christchurch.
“There was a huge demand for Covid-19 services — testing, vaccinations, and social services,” Tangri says. “People were struggling to cope with everything, especially when they had to isolate, so we responded to their needs.”
Serving the community
Anne Kendall was able to benefit from the Whānau Ora Community Clinic’s Covid-19 response service. “Their staff picked me up and took me to have a test,” she says. “They explained what the process was and what you needed to do to not only look after yourself but ensure you also keep the community safe.”
Kendall decided to continue with the clinic when her son had a stroke. “Trying to get him to a doctor when he’s not mobile just wasn’t happening, so I turned to the Whānau Ora clinic where the doctor came and did a home visit,” she says. “Because of my son’s condition and his mobility, there were times when I was quite tired, so the clinic arranged for food to come around.”
The ‘one-stop shop’ nature of the clinic is what keeps Kendall coming back and availing of its services.
“When you’re not well, you often don’t think about what else you need,” she says. “Accessing everything in one place — seeing a doctor, getting your medication and any supporting information, getting any food parcels you need — makes it easier. For me, that’s what a clinic is — it’s about serving its clients and being of service to the community as well.”
George Ngatai and his wife
George Ngatai and his wife
Visit www.wocc.co.nz to learn more about the Whānau Ora Community Clinic, or call 0800 367 942 to make an appointment to come to their Takanini site or any local branch.
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