Masterton Medical not going back

Masterton Medical will stay here for the next two years instead of going back to Lincoln Rd.

Masterton Medical isn't going to stay permanently at the back of Wairarapa Hospital but it won't be moving back to its former Lincoln Rd location either.

The centre is set to stay at the hospital site for about two years however, while a completely new building is investigated, said general manager Paul Cocks.

He said the board of directors had assessed their options and they were pleased to announce the decision to stay there for the short to medium term while opportunities for a new facility were explored.

"In the next six months we will be working on how we deliver our services and how we do things around here.
"That will help inform us for designing a new building."

The practice, which has 23,000 patients, was forced to move from its Lincoln Rd location when a fire broke out in the ceiling, leaving it uninhabitable, in February.

It is the largest of its kind in the country and its services were disrupted until a temporary location was found at the unused rehabilitation and geriatric services building at the back of the hospital.

The former building has since been repaired but as a result of feedback on the hospital site and its future direction, the board decided to look at moving.

"Our aim is to ensure our future building is set up to be able to accommodate the best ways to deliver care."

Mr Cocks said the hospital site had allowed them to bring all services under one roof for the first time in a number of years.

He said they appreciated the community's patience while waiting for this decision.
"It is one of the most significant resolutions the company has made for some time.

"It has been important to get it right by carefully weighing up all the options."

Mr Cocks was aware that some patients may need help getting to the hospital and said they were looking into creating a bus route.
"Now that we are going to be here for two years we will look at that."

He said they were still discussing whether the pharmacy and MedLab will move to the hospital site.

They were not damaged in the fire and had remained open at the Lincoln Rd site.
"They might have some of the services up there but we are still exploring that."