Kia ora koutou,
With Christmas right around the corner, we thought it timely to update you on what happens during the holiday break while we are closed, along with some helpful tips for the summer ahead.
To keep up with the latest, be sure to follow us on Facebook.
Please click here for our Christmas/New Year clinic hours for 2024/25. We will be operating with reduced hours during this time, however our team will still be here should you need us. We will still have bookable appointments with both our GPs and Nurse Practitioners during this period, as well as our Acute Care walk-in clinic.
Ka ora Telecare
Our Afterhours service, Ka Ora Telecare, is available to our patients from 5pm to 8am (evening and overnight) on weekdays, and 24 hours during weekends and public holidays. This service gives you the option of speaking with a doctor over the phone if you need a GP consultation. Appointments cost $19.50 for all enrolled patients.
To access this service, just call us on 09 420 8400 and you will speak directly to a Kaiāwhina or Nurse. The team will assess your health needs, and if needed, you can either have a telehealth appointment with a Clinician directly, or you may choose to schedule an appointment later in the evening.
Alternatively, if you are after an online appointment with a GP, please check below for our special Christmas offer with CareHQ.
In an emergency, please call 111. Visit Te Whatu Ora to find your nearest Urgent Care if needed.
Book to see a GP online over the Christmas break
If you are unwell over the summer break* and need to see a doctor, you have the option of a virtual appointment with a doctor through CareHQ. From 16 December 2024, through to 19 January 2025, you can access online appointments with an expert CareHQ GP from 7am-9pm, 7 days a week including public holidays. The cost of this for a standard 10-minute appointment will be:
• $49.95 for standard users
• $19.50 for Community Service Card holders.
Please note, this is subsidised down from the standard cost of $79.95, thanks to special funding from ProCare.
To see a doctor online, all you need is a computer or smart phone. Open your MyIndici patient portal online or smartphone app, click "Book Appointment" and scroll down until you see 'Other Telemedicine Consultation Services', and click on CareHQ. Select a GP 10 minute appointment, either CSC or non-CSC and ‘continue’. From here you will be asked to enter some standard details before confirming and making payment.
Please note, you will be required to enter your Community Services Card number for CSC appointments.
Once you book an appointment, you will receive several email and text reminders, including a secure link which you click on just before your appointment to be connected to the doctor. If you need a prescription or tests, this can be arranged for you during your online appointment and then sent to the appropriate pharmacy or testing centre.
You will receive a text message or email 15-minutes prior to your appointment, with a video link to start the virtual appointment. If you have unreliable wi-fi, not enough data, or do not start your virtual appointment, your GP may call you for a phone consult instead.
Please note, virtual consults are suitable for most medical needs, sicknesses or injuries, from common colds, urine infections, migraines and repeat scripts for your pharmacy, through to acne and health counselling. As standard, if you have a medical emergency such as severe pain, collapse, or shortness of breath, please call 111 immediately.
* This offer runs from Monday 16 December 2024 – Sunday 19 January 2025 (subject to demand).
MyIndici Patient Portal Update
If you haven’t already set up your MyIndici patient portal, now is a great time to do so! This will ensure you can take advantage of the above offering over the break if you need it, book future appointments with your regular GP, and now you can even pay for repeat prescriptions, view and pay any outstanding accounts, and check your lab results and vaccination records directly through your MyIndici patient portal.
You can register for a MyIndici account here. Once you have registered with MyIndici, you can log in to your patient portal here.
Repeat Prescriptions
So we can manage your repeat prescriptions during this period, please check now to see that you have enough medication to last between 20 December 2024 to 6 January 2025.
If you are likely to run out of any of your medication during this time, then please request a repeat script via MyIndici, or call us now on 09 420 8400 to organise a repeat prescription ahead of time - this must be done by Tuesday 17 December.
If emergency prescriptions are needed while we are operating with reduced hours, please either call reception on 09 420 8400 or visit our Acute Care walk-in clinic on the days were are open. Alternatively, if it is after hours, please call on 09 420 8400 and you will be put through to Ka Ora Telecare.
Pertussis/whooping cough vaccinations
You may have heard that whooping cough/pertussis is going around and affecting some people in our community. If you don't know, whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system and can lead to a serious long-term coughing illness and is particularly dangerous for babies. The National Public Health Service has now declared this a national epidemic
Whooping cough vaccines are fully funded for:
• pregnant people from 13 weeks
• all children under 18 years
• adults aged 45 to 65 years.
Vaccinations and boosters for whooping cough are available at Kaipara Medical Centre either with a scheduled appointment, or via our walk-in clinic between 9am - 3pm weekdays. Please note, charges may apply if you do not qualify for the funded vaccination.
If you are unsure if you need a vaccination, please call on 09 420 8400 and press 3 to speak with the nurse.
More information about whooping cough can be found on the Health New Zealand website here.
Summer Wellness
Financial health: The holiday season can bring with it financial stress for many people. Remember that entertainment can be free and fun at the same time. Check out some of these free activities that you can enjoy around Tāmaki Makaurau this summer.
Stay safe over the summer: With the return of summer, it's a great time to make sure you're safe while out and about. Check out the following advice on looking after yourself in the sun and also around the water. Finally, it's important to relax and unwind after a busy year, so here's a few ways to enjoy a healthy festive season.
The Big Little Local event was held on Saturday, 23 November at the Rautawhiri Park Pavilion (Helensville Tennis Club) and it was fantastic to see so many of you there, not letting a little bit of rain dampen your spirits!
Many of you told us you are finding great value in our Acute Care Daily walk-in clinic, we are so happy to be able to continue providing this service to you. It was great to get people checking their blood pressure and blood glucose too on the day, and if you were one of the lucky people to walk away with a prize from our draws - congratulations!
Check out a couple of pictures of the day below:
Thank you for your support over the past year, it has been a pleasure to work with you on your health and wellbeing for another year.
Kia tino hari kirihimete me te tau hou haumaru me te harikoa
Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year
Ngā mihi,
The Kaipara Medical Centre Team
