April 2022 Newsletter

Hard to believe we are approaching winter already!  It continues to be a busy time for General Practice as we navigate through COVID-19 and enter the Flu season.

Flu Vaccines

We now have Flu vaccines in stock for those aged 3 years and over.

We have already run our clinics for the year so please book a normal nurse appointment if you wish to receive your flu vaccine.  The flu vaccine is free for those aged 65 and over, Māori or Pacific people aged 55 or over and for some other people if they qualify.

Fees for those who do not qualify for a funded vaccine are:

  • $30 for anyone aged 14 or over
  • $15 for anyone aged 13 or under

For those aged 65 years and over there are two vaccines available – the funded one or an unfunded alternative.

The unfunded vaccine contains an adjuvant that stimulates a stronger immune response to give the vaccine greater effectiveness.

The cost of this vaccine is $35 and you will need to phone and book this with the nurse.  03 385 3114.

If you’d like to book a flu vaccination for your child aged under 3, please phone us and discuss with the nurse as we need to order these in for you.

Staff Changes

After spending time with us as locums, we are delighted that both Dr Paula Cummings and Dr Maria Barroso have decided to join us on permanent basis.

Now that the boarders are opening up more, we are sad to advise that Dr Judith Rikmanspoel will be heading overseas to spend some time with her family, something she was planning to do before COVID changed everything.  We cross our fingers that once her travels have ended, she will come back to Christchurch and join us again.

Easter hours

We will be closing at 5.30pm On Thursday 14th April for the Easter Break, back open again at 8am on Tuesday 19th April.  If you need medical advice over this time, you can still call us on 385 3114 where you will be directed to our After-Hours team.  The 24 Hour Surgery on Madras Street will be open as usual over the Easter period if you need medical care.

ConnectMed – Patient Portal

Our ConnectMed portal has been updated and we are delighted that you are now able to do the following via the portal:

  • Book appointments for yourself or enrolled family members
  • Order repeat prescriptions
  • View lab results (level 2 access only)
  • View immunization history (level 2 access only)

 

Each person in a family will have to have their own log on – no shared email addresses due to accessing of lab results and immunisation history

Only patients aged over 16 are able to sign up to ConnectMed.

 

For those with existing ConnectMed accounts:  Your log in details will remain unchanged please make sure you access ConnectMed via the link on our page (under book appointment online) or go directly to their website https://patient.connectmed.nz/  If you have saved their website previously, please note this new one as the old one won’t offer you the above features.

Your access will automatically set at Level 1 access – speak to us at reception if you would like to be updated to level 2 access.

Level 1 access:

  • can book online appts and order scripts only.
  • Script orders will not list medication but will have a free text field like website form does now

For those new to ConnectMed – no previous account:

  • Please speak to reception about getting set up – there is a form you will need to complete
  • You will automatically be set up with Level 2 access which gives you the following:
    • book appointments for yourself or enrolled family members
    • Request scripts, all long-term medications will be listed for you with a tick box for you to select those medications you require
    • Access to labs results
    • Access to your immunisation history

 

Enrolments

We are not currently accepting new enrolments (other than for residents of Alpine View Retirement Village).  We will update you again via newsletter, our website and Facebook page once enrolments are open again.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.