With winter upon us we are seeing the usual rise in respiratory illnesses including the flu, COVID-19, RSV and the common cold. Appointment demand tends to be high, and like most workplaces we too have staff shortages due to sickness.
If you have respiratory symptoms you can still be seen if needed but please continue to always tell us about any respiratory illness symptoms (cough, runny nose, fever, chills, sneezing, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, tiredness) when you make a booking or before you come in, even if it is not the primary reason for your appointment, so we can see you in a way which keeps everyone safe.
We continue to offer telehealth appointments.
If you are attending the practice please wear a mask, we have these available in the waiting room to reduce the risk of spreading infections.
Planning ahead to minimise time in the waiting room, mask wearing and telehealth are all ways we can avoid overcrowding of our waiting room and reduce the risk of spreading winter illnesses to others.
There are lots of things you can do yourself at home to manage your symptoms. However, if you are feeling very unwell or at high risk of severe illness (babies, people aged 70 and over, pregnant, severely immunocompromised, have multiple medical conditions) please phone for advice. For information online please see:
Remember if you have any symptoms of a respiratory illness, you should stay at home until your symptoms have gone away, and you are feeling better. Staying home while you are sick is important to reduce your risk of passing your illness on to others.
When your symptoms have started to improve and you feel well enough to return to your normal activities, you can still be infectious and pass a respiratory illness on to others.
To protect other people from getting sick too, it is recommended you follow these precautions for 5 days after you feel well enough to leave your home and be out around others again:
Wear a mask, especially when you are in closed indoor spaces where there are other people around you, including medical centre waiting rooms.
Do not visit hospitals or aged residential care facilities where there are likely to be people at higher risk of getting very sick if they were to get a respiratory illness.
Practice good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes and washing or sanitising your hands often.
Stay away from people who are at increased risk of becoming unwell.
Immunisation is the best protection against measles. It’s more important than ever for people to check they are protected.
With active measles cases increasing around the world, and falling vaccination rates, Aotearoa New Zealand is at very high risk of a measles outbreak. Not enough people living in New Zealand are immunised against measles – just 1 case could start an outbreak. We need at least 95% of people to be immunised to prevent this.
Measles is a very contagious viral illness that spreads easily between people and makes most people feel very unwell. It can also cause serious health problems, including runny poos (diarrhoea), chest infections and brain swelling. About 1 in 3 people with measles will need hospital care. The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing measles.
TWO DOSES OF VACCINE ARE REQUIRED FOR IMMUNITY The MMR vaccine is free to anyone born after 1969.
People born before 1969 are believed to be at lower risk because they were likely exposed as a child.
Were you born between 1969 and 2004? You might not have had 2 doses and be fully protected against measles.
If you’re not sure that you’re fully immunised, check your MMH, or with your Plunket or Well Child book, or your doctor/nurse to make sure you’ve had both doses of the MMR vaccine.
If you haven’t had both doses, or you’re not sure, play it safe and get immunised. There’s no additional risk with getting an extra dose.
We’re all looking forward to summer and now’s the time to plan for the holiday break.
Like many businesses we will be taking a break over the holiday period to give our practice team a well-deserved rest.
The Practice will close from Friday 20th December 2024 @ 3pm
Normal business hours will resume on Monday 6th January 2025 8.30am – 5.00pm
Please note that some of our doctors and nurses will still be on leave after this date. If you are an enrolled patient with this practice and need healthcare when we are closed, please call our usual practice phone number (09) 521 5128 to speak to a registered nurse.
If you need a virtual consultation, we recommend CareHQ. CareHQ provides urgent and booked appointments with a real GP from 7am-7pm, 7 days per week. For more information, or to book, visit www.carehq.co.nz
If you have a medical emergency, please dial 111.
The closest accident and medical centre (A&M) to this practice is: White Cross Urgent Care, 110 Lunn Ave, Mt Wellington.
Repeat Prescriptions With the holiday period fast approaching we would like everyone to think ahead and check that you have enough prescription medication to see you through the holiday period. Please order any repeat prescriptions as soon as possible, to avoid pre-Christmas congestion. The fastest and most secure way is via the patient portal. Please note there is a 48 hour turn around period for repeat scripts. Urgent scripts will incur an extra charge, this will include last-minute scripts requested on the 19st and 20th December. If it’s time for your next check-up, or it will be due during the holidays, please think about booking for this soon as appointment slots before Christmas are filling up fast!
Preparing for Your Appointment Due to a number of factors, providing health care is becoming more complex. At our clinic, we strive to offer the best care possible within the time available. A standard appointment is 15 minutes, which is only long enough to discuss one major health issue and a minor concern as well. If you have multiple concerns or a complex health issue that requires more time, you can book a double appointment. This will allow us to thoroughly address your issues without the pressure of time constraints. Please note that additional fees apply for extended consultations.
To help you maximize your standard consultation time, before you arrive, think about the issues you want to address. If you have multiple concerns, please tell your doctor at the start of the consultation and don’t leave your primary concern until last. Your doctor can then go through these with you to determine which can be adequately dealt within the time available. Sometimes things are more complicated than anticipated and consultations run over time or additional services are required. There is generally an extra cost for this at the doctor’s discretion.
At the time of booking, it is helpful for you to let us know the reason for your visit, such as routine check-up, new health problem, complex health issue, driving or insurance medical, minor surgery, etc. This allows us to appropriately allocate appointment times. For phone bookings our receptionists may ask you for some information about your visit for this reason. A separate appointment is usually required if more than one family member needs to see the doctor. Payment is expected on the day of your appointments and at the time you order your script. We understand that sometimes you may have difficulty with payment. Please discuss this when booking or at the time consultation.
As well as the time spent with you during a consultation your doctor may spend extra time before or afterwards managing results and reports or sending referrals. Depending on the time involved these may also incur an extra fee.
We care about the service we offer and managing workflow helps us to maintain a high quality of care. As with all things in life the unexpected sometimes happens and things don’t go to plan. We will always give priority to emergencies and urgent health issues and give these as much time as needed.
Pertussis Pertussis (whooping cough) rates are on the rise in New Zealand. Pertussis is always present in our communities, but every 3-5 years we get a significant rise in cases leading to an outbreak that lasts around 18 months to two years before rates return to a baseline level. There have been ongoing high levels of pertussis cases, and hospitalisations, occurring over the last several weeks indicating the start of a national epidemic. Pertussis can be particularly severe for babies, and they may require hospital care.
Vaccination is an important measure to help prevent infection and transmission of the illness.
Vaccination in pregnancy is safe and recommended from 16 weeks. Boostrix vaccination is funded and encouraged in every pregnancy. This helps to protect new-born babies before they receive their first scheduled vaccines. Vaccination during pregnancy is 92% protective against infant death from pertussis.
Pertussis vaccine is given as part of the routine National Immunisation Schedule to babies at age 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months. It is important that babies receive their 6-week immunisations on-time.
We encourage all members of the extended whānau, including infants, children and older people to check they are up to date with all immunisations, especially their pertussis boosters. Boosters are funded for people aged 4 years, 11 years, 45 years and 65 years. Some whānau may wish to privately purchase a booster if a new-born baby is expected to join the household.
We ask that if you have respiratory symptoms and are coming into the clinic (even if this isn’t the reason for your visit) you wear a mask.
Measles A measles case has recently been identified in Auckland in a traveller who had recently returned from Southeast Asia, where there have been ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries. Aotearoa New Zealand is at very high risk of a measles outbreak because our current childhood MMR vaccination rates are well below the 95% coverage required to prevent an outbreak. Measles spreads very quickly and can cause serious complications.
Please be aware of measles symptoms, including fever, cough and rash.
If you are not immune and have been exposed to measles, MMR vaccination within 72 hours of exposure may provide protection and help limit the spread.
Meningitis Vaccines for Students A reminder there are 2 different meningitis vaccines (Bexsero and Menacra or MenQuadfi) which are currently funded and recommended for young adults 13- to 25-year-olds entering (within the next three months) or currently in their first year of specified close living situations, such as boarding school hostel, university hall of residence, military barracks.
We wish you a happy, safe and restful holiday season. Take care on the roads.
Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease. It can cause serious problems, including brain swelling, chest infections, or death. The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing measles.
An adult in Auckland has been confirmed as having measles, following recent overseas travel. Locations of interest have been identified on Waiheke Island between 5 and 11 November.
Symptoms of measles Measles symptoms can start 7 to 18 days after you are exposed to the virus. The symptoms usually start within 10 days.
The first symptoms of measles are:
fever
cough
runny nose
sore red eyes.
If you have measles symptoms you should seek medical advice urgently. Call your healthcare provider or ring Healthline for free anytime on 0800 611 116
Aotearoa New Zealand is at very high risk of a measles outbreak. Of all diseases, measles is one of the most dangerous and contagious. It is so infectious that you are very likely to catch it and pass it on to others if:
you are not immunised, and
you come into contact with someone who has measles.
Measles can spread very easily among people who are not protected (immune) from the virus. This is anyone who has not already had 2 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, or who has not had measles before.
If you were born after 1 January 1969, you must have evidence of your immunity (2x MMR vaccinations, or evidence of having had the disease)
This is a 30 minute appointment with one of our practice nurses to review the parameters of your health and care particularly associated with diabetes.
Prior to the appointment the nurse will ensure your routine blood and urine tests are up to date, and also review your eye screening records.
Measurable markers such as your weight and blood pressure will be taken, and a Diabetic Foot Check also performed. We believe this is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and get advice about your medication, diet and exercise. If you keep a diary of your blood sugar tests at home, please bring this in with you.
Please phone and make an appointment with the Practice Nurse and tell the receptionist you are booking for a Diabetes Review. The cost of the appointment is $60.
Book soon for funded Meningitis vaccines 3 months prior to starting Uni or boarding school Criteria: Individuals aged 13–25 years, inclusively:
Bexsero and MenQuadfi are recommended and funded for those who are entering within the next three months or are in their first year of living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks, Youth Justice residences or prisons.
Funding covers individuals who turn 13 years of age while living in boarding school hostels.
If it feels appropriate you may book a virtual appointment ( phone or video) via portal, but not onsite. If you think you likely need to be seen, then please phone reception and our nurses will triage so we can time appointments via our back door access. This is not just about covid but all viral illnesses!
It is essential that we keep our waiting room and Practice safe for vulnerable patients & minimize risk of our staff getting ill.
INFLUVAC is the 2024 Funded Flu Vaccine which is FREE for patients who meet the Eligibility criteria*. The cost, for patients who are not eligible for a funded vaccine, is $38.00.
– If you are wanting a flu vaccine only, simply come in, or please make a Nurse Appointment if you prefer a specific time. – If you would like to have the new Covid booster at the same time as the flu vaccine, please make a Nurse Appointment.
Other non-funded vaccines available… There are two ‘advanced’ flu vaccines available from Wednesday 6th March:
1. The 2024 ‘Advanced flu vaccine’, FLUCELVAX Quad is for patients aged between 6 months and 64 years – cost $45.00. 2. The 2024 ‘Advanced flu vaccine’, FLUAD Quad is for patients aged 65 years and over – cost $50.00.
