30 years on we needed a partner to take us to the next phase

Providing primary healthcare since 1992, Mt Wellington Family Health Centre wanted to partner with a strong and compatible new owner to help take them into the next 30 years.

GP owners Dr Jim Kriechbaum, Dr Martin Ng and Dr Soshamma George chose Green Cross Health because they offered a flexible partnership ownership model.

Dr Martin Ng retains his ownership, Dr Jim Kriechbaum chose to reduce his share, and Dr Soshamma George has exited the partnership with part of her share being purchased by two associates Dr Kirsty Good and Dr Hsin-Yao Chang, who have also been with the practice for many years.

Dr Martin Ng says, “It’s also about the culture and having a good fit. I had visited other Green Cross Health clinics and through my dealings with them I got a sense that they were keen to work ‘with us’ as partners.”

“While we expect some change, they have embraced what Mt Wellington is all about and are willing to let us carry on the way we are,” says Dr Kriechbaum.

This union takes Green Cross Health’s network to 57 medical centres supporting over 352,000 enrolled patients across the country, making them the largest general practice network in New Zealand by a mile.

Mt Wellington Family Health Centre is a central Auckland practice which wants to grow but has run out of space to continue supporting their 7,300 enrolled patients.

Dr Kriechbaum commented they had run out of space to grow and will work with Green Cross Health to investigate alternative premises, “All the doctors and staff will remain with the practice. The existing building, even with the addition of 3 cabins on the back lawn, is too small. We need larger premises for existing services, and we would like to return to being a teaching practice.”

Running the practice also has its challenges.

Dr Ng said, “It’s getting harder as a working GP and business owner with the extra admin and managerial responsibilities, as well as the increased demand from patients. We look forward to having a partner to do the management side of things.”

Wayne Woolrich, General Manager Medical at Green Cross Health says, “We worked with Mt Wellington to develop a new partnership structure that suits everyone, including the current GP owners and introducing new owners into the mix. Having continuity and experience combined with fresh ownership is a great mix.”