| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
The Director of the University’s health centre, Dr Joan Allardyce, and her staff are delighted to be working in their new premises which have been completed in time for the beginning of the first semester.
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| Practice Manager Judith Kirk (left) and Health Centre Director Dr Joan Allardyce. |
“It’s absolutely fabulous,” Dr Allardyce said.
Last year the University Council approved construction of the new building to replace the original health centre, which was built in 1973 when there was a student population of about 7000 and only students living away from home were entitled to use its services.
Dr Allardyce said it was envisaged at the time that the facility would serve the University well until such time there were 10,000 students enrolled.
By 1996 the centre was providing 12,500 doctor’s consultations. It currently provides between 38,000 and 40,000 consultations each year.
In 2005 a review commissioned by the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the need for a new centre capable of meeting current and future demand.
Dr Allardyce said the new facility would enable all of the centre’s services, including counselling and physiotherapy, to operate under the one roof again.
“Patients say they really like it. The lounge/café atmosphere — rather than a typical waiting room — appeals. They take out their laptops and books or drink their coffee and work at the tables. The Health TV plasma screen will be operating within two weeks and we hope to install a coffee machine soon beside the water cooler. And if people feel they need fresh air they can go out into the courtyard.
“The isolation room, as well as giving us a place to put someone with noro-virus, for example, can also serve as a place for someone with chicken-pox to sit exams. The observation room will enable us to keep an eye on someone who needs nothing more than to lie down for a while — for example someone with a migraine — or someone we are worried about and can’t send home.”
Dr Allardyce said the additional space would allow staff to work more efficiently and privately.
“Nurse services can now be more organised and professional because they have their own consulting rooms as well as an admin room to do their mountains of admin work.
“Having a dedicated meeting room separate from the staffroom means doctors can talk about gory subjects without putting the reception staff off their food. That separation also means we can also hold proper educational meetings with networked resources.”
Staff are delighted with the new facilities.
“I love it, it’s uplifting,” said manager Judith Kirk.
Receptionist Elley Dunns said the new centre was “fantastic”, and nurse Wendy Risdon said she felt like she had started a new job.
“Nurses can do so much more – like my massage and relaxation therapy.”
The new 874sqm health centre, at the eastern end of the UCSA car park, is a single level building with 20 consultation rooms. The cost of construction was $2.275 million.
Dr Allardyce said the centre did not want to entice staff from their existing family practitioners.
“But we are happy to see University staff for casual visits and for special things like the flu vaccine programme, smoking cessation, wellness checks and smear tests.
“We will also be pleased to give travel advice and any related vaccines or prescriptions.”
Dr Allardyce said the clinic was one of only four in Christchurch registered to provide the yellow fever vaccine.
“We believe we are now in a position to offer the students and staff the kind of health service they deserve."
For further information please contact:
John MacDonald
Corporate Affairs Manager
University of Canterbury
Ph: (03) 364 2910
Mobile: 021 417 289
john.macdonald@canterbury.ac.nz