Manu Ora practice made perfect at national awards

Three years after agreeing “we need to change the way we are doing things in health” and going it alone, Dr Rachel Inder and Dr Sara Simmons can officially call their brainchild, Manu Ora, the country’s best general practice.

Rachel and Sara were “over the moon” after winning GenPro General Practice of the Year at the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards on September 6 in Auckland.

As a charitable trust set up in partnership with Te Piki Oranga and the only kaupapa Māori general practice in the upper South Island, judges called the organisation and effort behind the Blenheim health centre “outstanding”.

Judges noted Manu Ora “stood out for a service that has been designed with focus on kaupapa Māori, pan-iwi governance, community connection, multidisciplinary comprehensive approach with focus on continuity and impact on both patients and the system.”

The 17-strong team relies on grants, patient fees, Te Whatu Ora contracts and donations to top-up capitation, so they can deliver extended consultations, wraparound support and outreach to reduce barriers and improve equity.

These extra efforts have meant patients have lower use of emergency departments, urgent care and outpatient referrals.

Dr Sara says the team was “completely blown away” with the honour.

“We were just honoured to be finalists and have that recognition for our kaupapa, then to win on the evening was really a huge recognition for both the awesome Mahi that our team do and the leap of faith that we have taken in changing the model of care for our for our patients.

“We've been back to mahi as usual this week, though, a little bit more invigorated than we were last week with the team being able to celebrate so hugely - it gives us real impetus to secure long term funding for our charitable model of care.

“It’s taken a huge commitment from our whole team so it’s a reflection of the work of our whole team and gives real credit to the model of care we operate under.”

However, those extra efforts to supply the model of care are only available due to the structuring of the clinic, and their fundraising efforts.

“We couldn’t exist within inadequate government funding [“capitation”] for our high-needs patients, which is why we chose to set Manu Ora up as a charity,” Dr Sara says.

“Many people think doctors are automatically funded by the government or that we get some special funding to support our high-needs patients.

“Sadly, no - the simple truth is we graft very hard to raise funds as every year we have to raise 72 percent of our costs to keep the doors open.

“But we know what we’re doing works, so we’re passionate about making it happen.”

“Many patient stories tell how we are transforming care, and their lives - some vulnerable patients without access to primary care may have died if not for Manu Ora”, Dr Rachel adds.

“We see this as recognition of the tremendous community collaboration behind this kaupapa and want to say an enormous thanks to all those who have supported us.

“We simply couldn’t do it without you.”