The Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre in Honiara has moved to 24-hour birthing and primary medical care, six weeks after it opened, the Australian High Commission said.
The 24/7 birthing centre started operating on Tuesday, and the urban health centre extended its hours to round-the-clock primary medical care.
Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach congratulated the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Honiara City Council on the use being made of the $250 million facility.
"The swift transition to 24/7 low risk birthing and primary medical care, 365 days a year, is a significant step up for integrated healthcare and easing pressure on the National Referral Hospital," Roach said.
He said the change showed how quality infrastructure and a well-trained system could adapt and respond to government and patient priorities.
More than 8,400 people have visited the centre in its first six weeks, including more than 3,000 outpatient appointments, 603 GP appointments and 238 dental appointments, according to the high commission.
Centre Director Dr Anniver Aitorea said the centre had been busy from day one, and that its one-stop care was reducing the need for multiple follow-up visits. With pathology and x-ray on site, she said, doctors could order blood tests or x-rays immediately for diagnosis and treatment on the spot.
The opening of birthing services will more than double birthing capacity in Honiara, with five birthing suites built to World Health Organisation "respectful delivery" standards.
Aitorea said all-hours healthcare in the heart of Naha would mean faster care for patients and allow specialist teams at the National Referral Hospital to focus on critical and emergency cases.
Roach said the centre's performance reflected the work of the Solomon Islanders and Australians who designed, built and operated it, and that it was being used and valued by the community. He said the centre was achieving beyond expectations and showed what the two countries could do together on health infrastructure and services.
Australia will continue to support the centre as it moves to 24/7 operation, the high commission said.
The centre provides low-risk birthing, outpatient and primary healthcare services under one roof, including x-ray, laboratory testing, maternal and child health services and dental care.