The Loft

Having experienced significant
disruption as a result of the Canterbury
earthquakes, a number of non-government
organisations, primary healthcare providers
and humanitarian organisations are
coming together to create a ‘child, family
and community health and wellbeing
centre’ in eastern Christchurch. Their aim
is to improve outcomes for families and
communities by co-locating services in
an easy to access central location, the
first floor of Eastgate Shopping Centre.
The creation of a whole of person, whole
of family/whanau approach to wellbeing
which can be delivered from one shared
space has never been achieved before
in Australasia, and creates a unique
opportunity for the Canterbury community.
One side of the centre will be dedicated to
social services, and the other to primary
health services. We currently have 12 agencies working from The Loft covering a range of services.
In the adjoining space on the first floor,
the Better Health-led primary healthcare
providers will deliver a collective Integrated
Family Health Centre that supports mental,
emotional, social and physical health.
Services include the Linwood Medical
Centre general practice, as well as a
pharmacy, physiotherapy service, district
nursing, midwifery care, mental health
counselling services, a breastfeeding clinic,
hand therapy, acupuncture, occupational
therapy services and other specialist
medical clinics.
The Linwood Library and Service Centre
are also located on the first floor.
Having these essential public and
community services together support
the revitalisation of Eastgate Shopping
Centre as a town centre.