Clinic makes immunisation easier

Samantha Hughes and daughter Imani Grace, 3 months, front, with Well Child Tamariki Ora clinical leader Michelle Freeman and Jordyn Anderson, 2. Photo / Stephen Parker

A new health service aimed at making it easier for families to get their children immunised has opened at Ohinemutu.

Tipu Ora's Tamariki Ora Drop In Clinic opened yesterday after 18 months of planning with an aim to boost the immunisation rates and remove some of the barriers facing parents.

Well Child Tamariki Ora clinical leader Michelle Freeman, who is driving the project, said it was all about "wrapping support" around the families and making it easier for them to access the services.

Tipu Ora will initially run a drop-in service two days a week, and hopes to expand next year into offering immunisations in the home.

Mrs Freeman said they hadn't offered immunisations before - instead referring people on to GP practices - but many of the parents they were visiting expected that nurses would be able to offer them.

She said there were various reasons parents didn't immunise children, including having several toddlers at home or struggling to get transport.

"We want to wrap support around them. We'll offer transport to our families where access is an issue."

She said the first target was those already registered with Tipu Ora but the drop-in clinic would be open to anyone.

With other services such as well child checks, dental services, smoking cessation and midwifery services in the same location, it made it convenient to do several things in the one place.

Mum of two Samantha Hughes said she loved the feel of the new drop-in clinic. While she always had her children immunised on time, Ms Hughes said the clinic being in the same place as other services she used would make it more convenient.