COMMUNITY CENTRIC CARE patients can access general practice doctors, as well as dental, physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropractic and acupuncture services.
“We are excited to be part of this integrated health care campus.” Paul Kendrick, Lead Sonographer at Longhurst Ultrasound, is referring to the comprehensive health facility – Longhurst Health - in the suburb of Halswell where Longhurst Ultrasound has recently set up practice.
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opulation growth in the south-west area of Christchurch post the 2011 earthquakes saw an unprecedented demand for health services in the suburb of Halswell. The result is Longhurst Health, an integrated family health centre providing convenient, accessible and high standard health services to the local community. In one stylishly-designed building, patients can access general practice doctors and nurses, as well as dental, physiotherapy, podiatry, chiropractic and acupuncture services. There is also a pharmacy, a hand clinic and a café onsite and now the ultrasound practice has joined the other specialists. “I’ve been involved in ultrasound imaging since the technology was developed in the 1970s,” Paul says. “Most of that time I have worked away from Christchurch, for the Nelson/Marlborough DHB and also in Auckland. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to return to the South Island to be with family and the Longhurst Health development offered just that.” Paul saw there was no other ultrasound practice on the south west side of the city and realised that from the conveniently-located Longhurst Health facility he would be able to offer services, not only to the local community, but also to people from the Selwyn
District and country districts further south. Longhurst Ultrasound is a private, specialist ultrasound practice. Using state-of-the-art equipment, Paul and his staff specialise in the areas of obstetric and gynaecological scans and screening and also carry out musculoskeletal and vascular scans as well as scans of other parts of the human body. “Our obstetrics and gynaecology patients are referred to us by their mid-wives or specialists or their GP. We work in close conjunction with mid-wives and specialists to provide optimum care for mothers and babies. Mothers first of all have a dating scan, then a second scan at 11 – 13 weeks and a third anatomy scan at 18 – 20 weeks. We also carry out growth and foetal appraisals from that stage onwards until the pregnancy reaches term and provide the mid-wives with specialist graphs and growth charts.” Paul adds that ultrasound scans assist other specialists in the diagnosis of medical issues. A musculoskeletal scan for example can help determine the path of future treatment – whether that might include surgery or physiotherapy. “We are looking forward to shortly moving into our dedicated rooms on the first floor of this building. We will then have two consulting rooms and a waiting room and reception area, so we will be totally set up to provide a high standard of care to patients.” You can contact Longhurst Ultrasound on 03 595 2256.
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