Newsletter – June 2022
Hard to believe the shortest day is already behind us! It continues to be a busy time for General Practice as we continue to navigate through COVID-19 and the pressures of the Flu season.
Flu Vaccines
We still 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. From 1 July 2022 free flu vaccinations will be extended to children aged 3-12 years and people with serious mental health or addiction needs
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
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. Unfortunately, the unfunded alternative vaccine for over 65’s is no longer available.
Heart Health Clinics
We are pleased to announce a new initiative focusing on preventative health. We know that lifestyle measures are crucial in reducing cardiovascular risk but these are often over looked due to time constraints during a standard appointment. Therefore, this initiative is aimed at focussing on your cardiovascular health in a consultation with a specialist trained cardiac nurse.
In consultation with a specialist trained cardiac Nurse, you will be provided with information and education to improve your health outcomes.
The Heart Heath Clinic involves a half hour, one on one appointment with a Nurse with blood tests prior to your appointment. During your appointment the Nurse will conduct blood pressure checks, identify and calculate your risk of heart attack and/or stroke and provide you with education based on these. In collaboration with the Nurse you/we will identify and create goals to help you improve your health.
We think you may benefit from this Heart Health Clinic. So, if it is something you would like to arrange please phone us on 385 3114.
The cost of this 30 minute appointment is $50 and includes all prior blood tests, a follow up blood pressure check and any prescription cost should medication be recommended.
Staff Changes
As outlined in our previous newsletter, we are sad to advise that Dr Judith Rikmanspoel will be heading overseas to spend some time with her family, now that the boarders are opening up more. We wish her a safe journey and cross our fingers that once her travels have ended, she will come back to Christchurch and join us again.
We will be having some locum cover over this time and look forward to welcoming Dr Catherine Lu during September. We are constantly on the lookout for another GP to join our team and will share any updates around this in upcoming newsletters.
ConnectMed – Patient Portal
We have had a few patients enquiring around difficulties access their ConnectMed accounts. The easiest way to access you account is via the button on our website. Or you can go directly to the NEW ConnectMed site https://patient.connectmed.nz/
If you would like to set up a ConnectMed or are having trouble with your account please let us know and we will help you get it sorted.
Fee increases from 1 July 2022
We wish to advise of a slight increase to our Consultation fees from 1 July 2022. Whist we endeavour to keep costs to a minimum, due to a substantial increase in operating costs we are now faced with the need to increase our fees slightly.
Standard Consults
Adult Consult / – 25 years + $50.50
Adult Consult – 18-24 years $42.00
Child Consult – 14-17 years $31.00
Child Consult – 0-13 years Free
Non enrolled consult $90.00
Standard Consults for Community Services Card Holders
Adult Consult / – 18 years + $19.50
Child Consult – 14-17 years $13.00
Child Consult – 0-13 years Free
Non enrolled consult $90.00
ACC Consults
Adult Consult / – 25 years + $50.50
Adult Consult – 18-24 years $42.00
Child Consult – 14-17 years $31.00
Child Consult – 0-13 years Free
Non enrolled consult $90.00
ACC Consults for Community Services Card Holders
Adult Consult / – 25 years + $22.00
Adult Consult – 18-24 years $15.00
Child Consult – 0-17 years Free
Non enrolled consult $90.00
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.