Our Services |
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Aclasta (Zoledronic acid) is an effective treatment of osteoporosis and is now available as a once-yearly intravenous infusion in primary care.

The infusion is funded under PHO clinical programmes for patients who meet PHARMAC Special Authority criteria.

If you are concerned about your bone health please book to see one of our doctors for discussion. Our nurses are trained in giving IV infusion and we offer this service in our clinic.

Cardiac Risk Assessments (as per the Ministry of Health Guidelines) are available at East Otago Health. This test will determine your risk of cardiac event or stroke within the next 5 years. These free assessments are based on age and cultural background. You’ll receive an invitation for your health check at the appropriate time for you. Also, Cardiac Rehabilitation is offered to people at risk of a cardiac event or post-cardiac events and surgery.

In 2023, there was a change to the way cervical cancer screening is done in Aotearoa NZ from the previous cervical smear test.

The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test is now the primary screening test for cervical cancer. The new test looks for the virus (HPV) which is known to cause more than 95% of cervical cancers. The virus is very common and is spread by intimate skin to skin contact or sexual activity.

Most adults will have HPV at some time in their lives. Infections usually clear by themselves, but some types of the virus which persist can go on to cause cell changes that turn into cancer.

Cervical cancer is preventable if you have regular screening.

The test is available to all women between the ages of 25 and 69 years who have ever been sexually active, even if you have been immunised against HPV. The HPV test is simple, easy, less uncomfortable, and very reliable.

There are 2 options for you to the new HPV testing –

• A vaginal swab which you can do yourself (self – test even at home) or have this done in the clinic by the nurse or
• You can have a cervix smear test done by a clinic nurse
  
  

Ask your nurse about your cervical screening options or the take-home test kit and instructions. In some cases, your screening test is free of charge.

Ensuring wellbeing for all the family including children’s developmental, behavioural and physical health. All enrolled children 13 years of age and under are eligible for free GP services.

We conduct various child health checks

• Age-related health checks and measurements
• Developmental and milestone monitoring
• Child immunisations: Make a booking with your GP for a check for your baby at 6 weeks, which includes the first immunisation. Otherwise, book with a Practice Nurse directly for all other childhood immunisations.

These can be referred to in your child’s Personal Health Record also known as the Well Child Tamariki Ora My Health Book.
We treat a range of childhood conditions and illnesses. Some of the more common child health complaints include:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Eczema
• Ear infections
• Bladder infections
• Colds
• Upper respiratory infections
• Vomiting and diarrhoea

We have the following services available from our clinic.  To book please phone us:

• Podiatrist
• Pregnancy Acupuncture, Acupressure and Support
• Community Physio
  
  

We do Diabetes Annual Reviews for people with an established diagnosis of Diabetes. This is free for patients enrolled at our practice between the ages of 15-79 years. This annual review assesses you for ongoing diabetes-related complications and for cardiovascular risk. As part of the diabetes service, we also provide an Insulin Initiation service.

Family history and symptoms such as weight loss/gain are an indicator of diabetes.  Diabetes is largely avoidable; we actively work with our patients to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Please inform the receptionist you are booking an appointment for a Drivers Licence Medical, this includes HT licence. This allows us to book you in with a nurse first for an eye test as well as with a Practitioner.

Please allow 30 minutes for these appointments.

Child Immunisations
Post Partum check for mum, and baby’s six week check are booked with the GP together. Immunisations are booked with the nurse to follow.  Book with a Practice Nurse directly for all other childhood immunisations.  

School Immunisation Program
If this is missed during the school program, we can administer the necessary vaccination/s. Or if parents prefer to bring a child into the practice for their immunisations, they can book with a nurse.

Vaccinations and Pregnancy
If you are planning to become pregnant it is highly recommended to check which vaccinations you may need before you become pregnant. Whooping Cough vaccination is strongly recommended for all expecting parents and other adults such as grandparents who will be in close contact with a new baby. Newborns are at risk of serious complications if they contract whooping cough.  Pregnant women can have a free whooping cough vaccine from sixteen weeks. This provides optimal protection for new babies. The Flu/Influenza vaccine can also be given. 

Adult Vaccinations
Please note not all adult vaccines are funded. Some incur a cost and are only free to particular age groups or medical conditions. Immunisation is still relevant in adulthood as ongoing protection is required for preventable diseases. Even if vaccinations were given in childhood, adults may need booster doses to maintain immunity. There are a range of adult vaccines available at our practice.

List of Vaccines

• Whooping Cough (also known as Pertussis)
• Influenza/Flu
• Measles -Mumps-Rubella
• Chickenpox (also known as Varicella)
• Pneumococcal Disease
• Tetanus
• Diptheria
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• We offer the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (now including HPV Virus) for all eligible children.
• Whooping Cough is funded for pregnant women from sixteen weeks and recommended (but not funded) for close family members i.e. partner, grandparents, and close family members.
• Tetanus boosters are recommended at 45 and 65 years of age or early in the case of dirty
• wounds.

Travel Vaccinations -Child and Adult
These need to be booked directly with your GP.

Travel related Diseases we can help you avoid:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Meningococcal disease
• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Tetanus, Diptheria + Polio
• Travellers Diarrhoea (Cholera)

LARC methods are very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy and are “fit and forget” forms of contraception – you don’t need to remember them every day or every month. LARC methods:

• Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD or IUD) are inserted through the cervix into a woman’s uterus. IUCDs may be either hormonal (Mirena^® or Jaydess^® ) or non-hormonal (copper IUCD).
• Jadelle^® is a hormone-releasing implant that is inserted just under the skin of the upper arm.
  
  

Depending on the type of device, it will need to be changed between three and ten years.

Read more about LARC methods here.

We fit both copper and Mirena coils.  Copper coils are fully-funded and Mirena coils, in some cases, are funded. Please make an appointment with a practitioner to discuss this further.

We also fit and remove Jadelle implants. This is a relatively simple and safe procedure. 

Other gynaecological procedures include pipelle biopsies (taking tissue from the uterus walls) to ensure healthy tissue. This procedure is often undertaken for irregular vaginal bleeding in any age group.  The procedure is fully-funded.

If you feel as though things are not quite right with your mental health, your GP is usually the first port of call. Our GP’s are qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental health issues. Some of the symptoms and triggers of a mental health issue can include:

• Life Crisis
• Family conflicts
• Suicidal thoughts
• Trauma
• Psychosis
• Relationship problems
• Constantly feeling ‘down’
• Constant worrying
• Constant feelings of anger
  
  

Mental Health has a significant impact on all aspects of life, including thoughts, feelings, behaviour, interactions, relationships, and decision-making. Mental health illnesses include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia, addictions, anorexia and bulimia.

What our GP’s can do
The aim of seeing a professional to help with your mental health is to resolve psychological problems and improve your quality of life through various coping strategies.

Mental Health Assessment

• Refer you to the Te Whatu Ora-funded Brief Intervention Service – Health Improvement Practitioner and Health Coach for adults and youths
• Refer you to a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, other specialists or support group
• Prescribe medication
• Advise on positive lifestyle adjustments.

Our GP’s perform minor surgical procedures. These are carried out under local anaesthetic for your convenience and comfort. This requires a consultation with your GP prior and may result in a referral.

Some of the procedures we do:

• Removal of moles and skin lesions
• Removal of cysts and some skin cancers
• Cortisone injections
• Biopsies
• Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen) is offered by GP’s and Practice Nurses.

Maintaining good health throughout a lifetime is one of the best ways to prevent disease from occurring in the body and enjoy quality of life as old age approaches. Our GP’s can help detect and treat disease early, to reduce the risk of a disease becoming serious, debilitating, or fatal.

Preventive health checks include:

General

• Annual check-ups for early detection of disease
• Non-funded smoking cessation advice
• Recommendations based on family medical history
• Skin Checks
• Fasting blood tests
• Stress heart tests
  
  

Women

• Breast checks
• Pap smears (Cervical Smears)
• Mammogram referrals

Men

• Prostate examination

Each primary care practice has its own procedure for repeat prescribing but the following rules are common to most, if not all.

Patients who are well-known to the practice who have a stable condition like asthma, hypertension or diabetes could be allowed to get a repeat prescription for up to six months.

Repeat prescriptions are never given to patients who are not known to the practice and there is a blanket ban on repeats for narcotics and other drugs that could be misused, as doctors are expected to monitor these drugs carefully.

Repeat prescriptions without seeing a Practitioner are available for certain medications only for enrolled patients after discussion with one of our Practitioners. If you are on multiple medications, you will need to be reviewed every three months. 

There is a $25 charge and this can take up to 48 hours to be sent to your pharmacy.

Prescriptions for regular medication can be requested via Manage My Health, in person, or by phone. To ensure your medication is still right for you a regular review with your Practitioner is needed. Please talk to the nurse if you would like more information about this.

All of our clinical team are involved in the delivery of the sexual health service. It includes contraception, diagnosis, and treatment of STIs (sexually transmitted infections), cervical screening, management of erectile dysfunction, management of gynaecological health etc.

We are a provider of spirometry. This is a comprehensive test to ascertain lung function. To access this service you must be referred by your GP. A Practice Nurse will perform your Spirometry test.

You may require laboratory tests including blood tests. Our practice policy is that either a GP or a Nurse will only phone you if you have significant abnormal results or results from tests that require a change to your health management. You will not be contacted if your results are in normal range and do not require any changes as a result.

You can access your lab results once they have been checked and filed, via Manage My Health.  You can sign up to Manage My Health online or contact us about how to register.

We have a INR machine onsite for checking your warfarin levels with immediate results.  Please phone for an appointment.

Our Doctors offer information and advice, dealing with a variety of concerns for women, starting from the early teenage years through to adulthood, including pregnancy, menopause, post­menopause, and beyond.