INNOVATION SEES REVAMP IN DESIGN OF HUTT VALLEY HEALTHCARE FACILITY

 A New Zealand company is revolutionising the way primary health care facilities are being planned and built. Medispace is currently developing the Hutt Valley Health Hub, which is the first of its kind in NZ to have a level 4 building code - the only primary health centre with this rating in New Zealand. 

The integrated primary health facility, currently called Hutt Valley Health Hub, is being funded by a private investor. The general practice Ropata Medical Centre will be located there, with other tenants to be confirmed, that could include physiotherapy, a pharmacy, dental clinic and childcare. The hub is scheduled to be open by the end of 2019. 

Medispace specialises solely in integrated healthcare infrastructure. The company goes beyond project management of the facility; it develops and oversees work during the initial stages of sourcing a property, sources finance or investors, manages the architecture and sources tenants. 

Patient-care is at the centre of the building model. Medispace works alongside health providers, researching the demographics of an area to ascertain what health needs they may have and what health providers a facility may require. 

The building will have its own water supply, power and sewage. The structure will be built of NZ sourced, sustainable timber.

Clause A3 of the Building Code defines the significance of a building by its importance level (IL), which is related to the consequences of failure. The facility will have an IL4 earthquake resilience rating – level 4, critical post disaster infrastructure. Under this level, the building code states that ‘buildings that must be operational immediately after an earthquake or other disastrous event, such as emergency shelters and hospital operating theatres, triage centres and other critical post-disaster infrastructure’. 

Adrian Tucker, Practice Manager of Ropata Medical Centre, which will be based in the new building, explains why he has strong confidence in Medispace, 

“When I met their Project Director Roy, it was his excitement to build better services and provide better outcomes for patients that sparked my interest in what Medispace were doing. He just understood what health was all about.” 

Mr Tucker echoes the sentiments of the primary care model that Medispace base their business ethos around. 

“They’re very inclusive; they want the best thing for the entire building and work strongly on our behalf to push the vision. They firstly think about the patient needs then wrap the services around that.” 

The site is on a former bowling green on Boulcott Street, behind the Boulcott private hospital and nestled beside the Hutt Hospital. The facility will serve the whole Hutt Valley region, approximately 145 000 people. 

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace is excited by the development, saying it is a fantastic use for the land and will have benefits for the city, both in terms of resilience, and in responding to increased demand for health care services in the future. 

“It fits in with Council’s intent that the land be used for medical or health facilities, given its proximity to other health services like Hutt Hospital.  Lower Hutt has an aging population so it’s important that we plan for the increasing pressure that this will put on existing services. Having an integrated health facility such as this will deliver better health outcomes for our community. 

“As the facility is being built to such a high standard, it will enhance the resilience of health care services in Lower Hutt. Council applauds the developers for their forward thinking and willingness to invest in the city and the health of our people.”