INITIATIVES
As our district grows, so does the demand for trusted local healthcare. The Pohlen Foundation’s initiatives are strategically designed to expand our hospital's capabilities, elevate patient comfort, and bring specialist services closer to home. Our initiatives focus on funding the vital medical equipment, facility expansions, and wellness amenities that standard budgets cannot cover.
EXTENSION PROJECT
The Matamata Medical Centre (MMC) are a tenant of Pohlen Hospital, along with Pathlab, Matamata Physiotherapy, Unichem, and Bay Radiology. MMC is dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare services to our growing community. With a significant increase in patient demand and an evolving healthcare landscape, we are proposing an extension to our current facilities.
An extension project, funded 100% by community donations and Pohlen Foundation fundraising events, began in late 2025. The expansion includes alternate pathways for different levels of care including acute clinics, emergency triage and resuscitation rooms. An area of the hospital has been made available for the medical centre to expand into.
OBJECTIVES OF THE EXTENSION
To increase the consult rooms and improved spaces to be able the facility to operate efficiently and effectively,
To meet patient demand
To improve patient care and access and
Economic benefit
SCOPE OF THE EXTENSION
Medical centre extension providing new consult rooms, nurse station, resus, triage, staff bathrooms/showers.
Relocation of Pathlab.
New ambulance entry.
New café area and upgrade of that area.
Internal renovation of hospital to provide new laundry and improved back-of-house layout and rear entry.
Re-roof to fix leaks and strengthen roof to enable suitable solar panels
Overall 104sqm of additional floor area has been added plus 404sqm of internal renovation.
MAY 2026 UPDATE
Great progress continues on the Medical Centre expansion, and the pictures speak for themselves!
The exterior is looking fantastic with the Innowood cladding now fully complete, and the scaffolding is coming down, so the new building is really starting to reveal itself to the community. Inside, insulation is finished throughout, the plasterers have just gotten underway, and internal lining (Gib) is well on its way.
The beautiful Hinuera stone feature is coming soon, pending final confirmation from the contractor.
Completion is estimated to be August 2026, however, Pathlab will be moving into their new premises earlier than that.
