Your Health

Keep up with the latest health and wellbeing news

July Newsletter 2024

Patient Experience Survey– Health Quality and Safety Commission NZ (HQSC)

The NZ Patient Experience Survey Programme is designed to assist the health sector in improving the quality of health care services in NZ by enabling patients to provide feedback that can be used to monitor and improve the quality of health services. Detailed methodological information is accessible to everyone:

www.hqsc.govt.nz

Practice Services – Our process reminders

Repeat Prescriptions

When we replaced our old telephone system four years ago, one of the considerations was to ensure we were able to provide a secure and confidential method for processing your repeat prescriptions and test result requests. Both of these medical requests are a clinical responsibility and are processed away from the reception desk/ waiting room area by our nursing team.

Patients…
When you dial our phone number (07 3501193) the initial recorded voice message will advise the emergency messages and then it will ask you too either:

Press 1
Repeat prescription
Leave your Name, DOB, and which pharmacy you would like your script sent to (we aim to have it ready within 48 hours). If you don’t hear back from one of our nurses, then your prescription will be processed and you do not need a review with your doctor, this time.

Press 2
Test Result (for a call back from a nurse)
Leave your name, DOB, contact number and message (explaining which result you would like).

During the winter months - Please allow 48 - 72 hours to process a repeat prescription. If you require an urgent same day script you will need to advise us before 11am and it should be ready after 4pm that same day. Usual fees apply.

Re enrolling at your general practice every 3 years

To ensure we meet Ministry of Health enrolment obligations we are required to ensure all of our patients have their enrolment form updated every three years. If we are unable to catch you when you are in the practice to do this, we send out an enrolment form to you and any dependants living at your home who also need their enrolment forms updated. If you receive an enrolment form, (with an explanation letter as to why we need this done), please ensure you complete and return it to us within the timeframe stated in the letter. This will ensure continued enrolment with our medical centre.

Fee Increase

We regularly review all our Consultation and Sundry Service Fees to ensure we are maintaining fair and reasonable charges. Regrettably, with increased costs being passed onto us by our creditors, reduced resources, low staffing levels and the constant underfunding for general practices by the government, we are unable to continue to deliver healthcare services while maintaining our current general practice fees.

From Monday 1 July, our Consultation Fees and Sundry Services Fees will increase.

DNA Appointments

A friendly reminder that we ask you to provide at least a minimum of 1 hours’ notice if you need to cancel your booked appointment (on the day) and if you do not attend (DNA) your appointment without extenuating circumstances being provided, a fee will be charged.

2024 Flu Vaccines

Flu vaccines are still available at the practice, please contact reception to make a booking.

Staff Updates

GP Registrar
Dr Gemma Herbison will be joining us for her six-month general practice registrar rotation at the end of July. Gemma will be a welcome addition to our practice.

Nurse Practitioner
We are very pleased to announce that Cyndi Childs is back with us for a further 3month locum term two days a week on a Tuesday and Thursday until September.

Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)
We have a new Health Improvement Practitioner. Liane Davison started with us at the end of May. Liane works Tuesdays in our practice.