Thames has been approved as a location for a new Community Clinical Learning Centre, which will serve as a training site for students from Waikato’s recently established medical school. The Hauraki Primary Health Organisation (PHO) confirmed the decision, although the exact site for the centre within Thames has yet to be determined.

The announcement came shortly after the PHO shared news on social media that its application to collaborate with the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine had been successful. The organisation expressed enthusiasm about contributing to the national initiative aimed at increasing the medical workforce, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Taima Campbell, chief executive of the Hauraki PHO, described the development as a significant opportunity for the local community. She noted that rural areas continue to experience persistent shortages of healthcare professionals and that establishing a local clinical training centre would help create pathways for aspiring doctors to train and build meaningful connections within the Hauraki region.

According to the PHO’s statement, students who gain positive clinical experience in rural settings are more inclined to return and establish their medical careers in those communities, addressing workforce gaps in those areas. The establishment of the Thames learning centre is part of a broader strategy to support the growth of medical professionals in underserved regions of New Zealand.