Your Health

Keep up with the latest health and wellbeing news

October Newsletter

Welcome to our latest newsletter. In each edition we will focus on the latest practice activities, health service updates and health promotion, communicate any patient feedback and update staff changes.

Patient In-practice Survey

We held a patient survey 21-25 September in the practice. If you visited one of our doctors or nursing team during this time and completed a survey, thank you. Your feedback is essential in helping improve the services we provide you and your whanau. We will share the outcome of the survey with you in our next newsletter.

Health Service Update - Covid-19

We continue to offer a full range of consultation options to our patients during this time; telephone, video conference, email and face to face appointments.

If you have any respiratory symptoms (sore throat, cough, runny nose, temperature) and or have been in contact with anyone from an isolation centre or an area outside of Rotorua who is experiencing community spread – please call BEFORE you come into the practice – do not come in. And if you are unwell, stay at home.

Covid-19 Testing – please call reception and we will advise what to do next or you can contact Health line 0800 358 5453

For the latest updates – visit the Ministry of Health website

Staff Profile

GP Registrar
Dr Rachel Wymer joined us at the beginning of June and will be with us for a six month rotation. Westend Medical is an accredited RNZCGP (Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners) training medical centre. Dr Rachel is available every day except a Wednesday.

Medical Receptionist
Michelle McLeod joined us this month and comes with excellent experience in medical reception and has ‘hit the ground running’. Michelle is a welcome addition to the existing reception team at Westend Medical.

With these new additions, come the departures. Last month saw Nurse Susan Clare retire; many of you will know Susan and wish her well in her retirement. Receptionist Valerie Smith also left last month. We wish both Susan and Valerie well.

Health Promotion

Measles Immunity Campaign 15-30year olds
To reduce the risk of future measles outbreaks, a year –long DHB-led immunisation campaign was launched at the end of July. This campaign targets 15-30 year olds who missed their MMR (Measles Mumps and Rubella) vaccine as children, particularly Maori and Pacific young people.
Call us for more information
Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October
In NZ you are able to have a free mammogram every two years for women 45 to 69years. Contact Breast Screen Aotearoa – Freephone 0800 2702000 or call one of our nursing team for more information.
Men’s Health Awareness Month – Movember
November is men’s health awareness month, addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men; prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. For further information on any of these issues or more, please call one of our friendly nursing team – 07 3501193
International Day of Disabled Persons – December 3
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.