For immediate release
6 August 2014
Plunket’s growing family of mobile clinics bring services to where they are needed
When Plunket launched its ‘Build a Bus’ fundraising drive for one new mobile clinic, it got more than it bargained for.
The response from donors surpassed all expectations, and Plunket raised enough for not one, but three mobile clinics.
Donors contributed over $140,000, and Plunket’s long-term fleet partner LeasePlan also got on board donating one mobile
clinic. The clinics are now hitting the streets in Northland and Auckland, and will be launching in Wellington/Wairarapa
at the end of August, to provide Plunket services to more children and their families in high needs communities.
“Mobile clinics are another vital part of our service in some communities, as they can make it easier for children and
families to access the health services they’re entitled to,” said Brenda Hynes Plunket General Manager of Service
Delivery.
“Some parents find it difficult to take their babies and young children to Plunket clinics, perhaps because transport is
an issue. Families often go to great lengths to get to our clinics, and they tell us that the mobile clinics give them
more options for accessing our services,” said Ms Hynes. “It’s important to us that every child has the same
opportunities for accessing our service.”
The mobile clinics are staffed by Plunket nurses and Karitane / health workers, and provide families with more choice in
how to access Plunket’s free services for children under five. Assessments such as before school checks and vision and
hearing checks as well as Well Child checks are also available. The mobile clinics provide the same services as static
Plunket spaces, but will travel to and park at different locations, offering on-the-spot services.
The Northland and Auckland mobile clinics are already out providing services to the community, and the
Wellington/Wairarapa mobile clinic will hit the road at the end of August. Each mobile clinic is operated by its local
Plunket team in the way that best meets the needs of the community.
Hynes also said that the mobile clinics add to Plunket’s present clinics and use of local community venues, and will be
used in different locations according to the needs of the local community: “It provides us with more flexibility – for
some services such as B4 School Checks we often need three rooms to provide services, so a mobile clinic can sit
alongside a community hall or marae to provide that additional space needed. Not all of the clinics are the same,
because not all communities are the same.”
And this may not be the end of the road for ‘Build a Bus’: “Plunket continuously looks at how we can improve and provide
services to the community, and we may need more mobile clinics in the future, depending on what people tell us they
need, and on the funding we can raise,” said Ms Hynes.
Carolyn Mettrick, Plunket National Fundraising Manager thanked all ‘Build a Bus’ donors for making a difference for Kiwi
kids: “We are so grateful for the generous support of everyone who donated to this appeal. Their kindness means we are
now able to put three new mobile clinics where they are needed around New Zealand. In these areas, children were at risk
of missing out on Plunket support and mobile clinics provide families with better access to gain the support they need
to ensure the health and well-being of their children. We’re excited to see the new Wellington mobile clinic hit the
road next week – we couldn’t have done it without the support of people in the community – thank you.”
Find out more about Plunket’s services at plunket.org.nz, where you can find contact details for your local Plunket area office.
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Notes to editors
• Plunket’s Build a Bus campaign launched in October 2013 appealing to the community to fund one mobile clinic.
Plunket’s long-term fleet partner LeasePlan pledged to contribute one whole clinic, if the target was reached. A total
of $146,536 was donated over three months, paying for two clinics, and LeasePlan donated one clinic. Plunket currently
has mobile clinics providing services to communities in Canterbury, Wellington/Wairarapa, Auckland region and Northland.
•
• Each mobile clinic is equipped to serve its local community, and services provided through the mobile clinics
differ from region to region.
About Plunket
For over a century Plunket has been giving New Zealand parents the support they need to nurture healthy, happy kiwi
babies. Plunket’s vision is Mā te mahi ngātahi, e puāwai ai ā tātou tamariki – Together, the best start for every child.
Plunket is a not-for-profit organisation and is New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the health and
development of children under five.
Plunket is dedicated to working with parents and communities to ensure that New Zealand children get the best start in
life. Plunket’s services help families nationwide, through over 300 branches, mobile clinics and a free phone service
PlunketLine, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (0800 933 922).
Plunket services are available free to families in New Zealand with children aged 0 to 5 and include ririki / parent
education resources based on Maori tikanga, kaiāwhina / healthworkers who provide care to whānau. As registered nurses
with a postgraduate qualification, Plunket nurses are able to offer high standards of expertise and a range of services
to families.
For more information visit plunket.org.nz
About BNZ – Principal Sponsor
Bank of New Zealand is proud to work hand in hand with Plunket to bring young New Zealand families support when they
need it most.
BNZ is proud to have been a part of New Zealand since 1861 and looks forward to supporting another organisation that has
been integral to our country's upbringing.