A dedicated hub for training Waikato medical students could be built in Thames – something the mayor’s called a "fantastic solution".
By Jordan Smith for Local Democracy Reporting
The proposal, which involves the construction of a community clinical learning centre spearheaded by a multitude of organisations, would provide desperately needed medical assistance to the region once the University of Waikato’s graduate medical programme starts in 2028.
"It would be absolutely life-changing for some people," Hauraki PHO chief executive Taima Campbell said.
"If you read any of the media at the moment, you'll find there are key workforce shortages, particularly for doctors [and] general practitioners alongside a number of other health professional roles in rural communities."
The university’s four-year programme includes lengthy placements and creates an opportunity for students to become a part of local communities.
Campbell says that if a student has a positive placement/clinical experience, they are more likely to remain in that area once qualified.
"The main focus for us is to create a really good learning experience so they do get a good understanding about what rural primary care looks like and that they can manage and live in those kinds of situations.
"We struggle with having enough people from a rural community at the best of times. We're so lucky we do have some people who've made a commitment to the community but a lost of them are also at the more mature part of their careers."
Multiple organisations are involved in the learning centre proposal, such as the Thames-Coromandel District Council, Hauraki PHO, Pinnacle, Te Whatu Ora, National Hauora Coalition and Ngāti Maru.
Thames-Coromandel Mayor Peter Revell said the council’s role is to support the organisations who will have boots on the ground, and jumped at the first chance to be part of the proposal.
"Throwing in our support to help facilitate it all was for us was a no brainer... we provide a fantastic solution for what Waikato University is wanting to do."
Thames’ infrastructure, which includes a hospital and multiple medical centres, are factors Revell said would help young, born-and-bred Waikato students to complete their placements close to home and give back to their communities.
"Can you imagine how exciting it would be if you take a town like Thames to have somewhere between 20 and 40 young people being part of the community? It'd be wonderful to have that sort of energy added to the energy that's already there in some of our communities."
As the proposal is still in a developmental stage, no decisions have been made in terms of funding, according to a University of Waikato spokesperson.
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
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