Your Health
Keep up with the latest health and wellbeing news
July Newsletter
Kia Ora and Welcome to your newsletter
In 2021 Matariki will be celebrated between 19 June to 11 July
Whakanuia te tau hou Māori, 19 o Pipiri ki 11 o Hōngongoi 2021
Matariki is one of the most important Māori celebrations. It signifies the start of the New Year in Māori culture. Matariki is the name for a star cluster also known as the Pleiades that rises in late June or early July. It literally translates in English to the “eyes of god” or “little eyes”.
Health Service Update
Covid-19
The Covid-19 status level can change at any time and in any region across NZ.
It is important that you do not come into the practice unless you have an appointment and if you are unwell with any of the Covid-19 symptoms or been in contact with anyone from the isolation centres or travel from anywhere overseas.
If you are unwell – stay home
Please continue to practice social distancing, good hand hygiene, coughing and sneezing into your elbow.
Do not come into the practice unless you have an appointment – Call reception to make an appointment (or you can email us on westend@raphs.org.nz if not urgent), call our repeat prescription line to order a repeat prescription or test result line and leave a message.
We continue to offer telehealth consults at anytime
Please sign in with the NZ Covid-19 Tracer App located just inside our front door and the pharmacy entrances. We also have a manual service available for patients who do not have the app.
Covid-19 Testing – please call reception and we will advise what to do next or you can contact Health line 0800 358 5453.
Covid-19 testing stations are open – call us if you are unsure of the location and opening hours.
For the latest Covid-19 updates – visit the Ministry of Health (MOH) website
If you are over 65years or have chronic health conditions, vaccinations are currently being carried out. Please contact the call centre on 0800 115 117 to make a booking. The MOH website will have updates on when the vaccine will be available for roll-out nation-wide.
Patient Appointments
You will have noticed it is getting increasingly difficult to get a same day doctor’s appointment when you call.
This past year has seen a 30% increase in general practice services carried out across the Rotorua/Lakes region compared to last year and this impacts on the availability of appointments.
What can you do?
Remember to check when you are starting to run out of your medication – call then for an appointment – you can never call too early – you may in fact still have a repeat left at the pharmacy.
Wherever possible reception will not take your prescription requests over the phone or over the counter, they are not clinically trained and this is to ensure your privacy and protection.
Our telephone system has a clear and concise pre-recorded message:
Press 1 for the repeat prescription line and leave a detailed message as requested
Press 2 for the results line and leave a detailed message as requested
Press 0 or hold to speak with reception and/or to make an appointment
We aim to have your repeat prescription ready to collect in 48 hours. We do not advise patients when it is ready to pick up but we will contact you if you are due for a medication review with the doctor.
Usually our doctors are fully booked one week in advance with the exception of emergency appointments – we hold a very small number of these each day – they are allocated by a nurse for patients in most need on the day.
Emergency appointments cannot be used for renewal of medical certificates – they are only for clinically assessed emergencies.
We now offer our patients a txt to remind appointment – it is important to keep us informed of your current contact cell phone numbers (we still print out appointment slips for patients who wish).
Please, remember to cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend.
Staff Updates
Westend Medical is a teaching practice. We work in partnership with the RNZCGP (Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners) to train and educate GP registrars each year within our practice. The registrar works under supervision in a team-based environment within the practice. These general practice placements are specialist training pathways designed to equip general practitioners with the skills they need to deliver high quality health care. Practices play a key role in helping to train the next generation of New Zealand’s GPs – and as a nation, we are very short of GPs!
On 2 August, Ralston D’Souza will be joining us for a six month rotation. Ralston will be available to see all of our patients for doctor appointments.
Dr Bronwyn Armstrong
As many of you are aware, Dr Armstrong has been away on leave due to a family emergency. Unfortunately, due to this she will now not be returning.
We sincerely apologise for any disruption and distress this may cause some of our patients, but please be assured, in the interim while we undertake securing a permanent replacement, you will be able to make an appointment with one of our other GPs.
Your health and wellbeing remains our priority.
Health Promotion Awareness
August 28 Daffodil Day - symbolises hope for all New Zealanders impacted by cancer since 1990. This iconic event has inspired people to come together and support the Cancer Society’s work.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month which is a time to shine a light on the thousands of children and their whanau/families across the world who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Patient Communication
Please remember to update your contact details with our reception team at westend@raphs.org.nz, or 07 350 1193 and let us know how you would like to continue to receive all your communication from us.
If you would like to comment on anything in this newsletter, please contact our Practice Manager, Linda Hutchison: linda.hutchison@raphs.org.nz
Ngā mihi nui
Your Team at Westend Medical
