Our Services - Kaikōura Healthcare

General Medical and Preventative Health Care

Our doctors can provide a full range of general practice consultations. We allocate 15 minutes for consultations which is in general enough time to deal with one major or two minor issues. If you have a number of complex issues, you will need to book a double appointment. We do our best to run to time but the unpredictable nature of our work means that sometimes there may be a wait.

Personal Health Checks

We recommend that from time to time you should have a personal health check. Early detection of medical problems usually results in better health long term. Please indicate to reception that you require a 30 minute wellness check when you book in. During this time we will talk to you about your lifestyle, review your family medical history and question you on a range of symptoms. You will have a comprehensive examination and in many cases you will have a blood test. We are particularly interested in identifying and treating risk factors for heart disease, stroke and some cancers. People over 50 are encouraged to have a wellness check yearly. It is also worth having at least 2 checks in your 30s and 40s, particularly if you have a family history of medical problems. Please click on the link for personal health check questionnaire, print it, complete it and bring it to your consultation.

Well Child Care

B4 School checks for children under 5 can be completed by one of our Practice Nurses.

Accidents and Wound Care

We are able to provide assistance for most minor injuries, accidents and fractures. We offer on site x-ray and plastering. Our nurses provide telephone advice and work closely with the doctors in all aspects of patient care. They offer skills in wound care management.

PRIME

(Primary Response in Medical Emergencies) service is a jointly commissioned project funded by the Ministry of Health and ACC and administered by St John. It has been developed to provide both the coordinated response and appropriate management of emergencies in rural locations.

The PRIME service utilises the skills of specially trained rural GPs and/or rural nurses in areas to support the ambulance service where the response time for assistance would otherwise be significant or where additional medical skills would assist with the patient’s condition.

Kaikōura PRIME providers operate an on call roster system where their PRIME trained practitioners are response capable 24/7. The on call PRIME practitioner carries a pager, PRIME response kit and other relevant safety equipment and is mobilised by the Ambulance Clinical Control Centre following an emergency call. The key objectives of PRIME are to support the ambulance service with a rapid response to seriously ill or injured patients, and to provide higher level medical skills than may otherwise be available from the ambulance service in rural communities.

PRIME practitioners are required to undertake an initial PRIME training course which is followed by a refresher training course for trauma and medical emergencies every two years.

Minor Surgery

Typically this involves the removal of skin lesions by excision or using liquid nitrogen. It also includes the removal of foreign bodies.

All of our doctors have minor surgery skills and some of them have further qualifications in this area. Please talk to your doctor about your procedure, as costs will vary.

Some of our doctors also insert and remove IUDs, including Mirena and Jadelle for contraception, perform endometrial pipelles and the insertion and change of pessary rings.

Travel Health

Before setting off on your overseas trip it is important to get accurate advice on how to remain healthy whilst you are away. You may also be required to have proof of certain vaccinations before you will be allowed to enter some countries. Organising your travel health needs is complex and involves much more than just getting a few vaccinations. You need to get it sorted out at least 6 weeks prior to departing.

We are unable to provide detailed travel health advice due to nurse capacity currently.

We suggest you go to; The Travel Doctor Christchurch in Edgeware, Christchurch or Travellers Health & Vaccination Centre, on Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch, Travel Clinic Amberley. Furthermore, please seek advice from them if your plans include:

Travel to South America, Africa and Asia
Travel to remote areas for periods over 1 month
Adventure, alpine travel/expeditions
Travel with young children (less than 2 yr)
Living and working in another country

You may be interested in looking at Fit for Travel or Travel Essentials for further travel health information.

Nurse Appointments

We offer a number of nurse led appointments. These include, but are not limited to:

Diabetes Clinics
Healthy heart checks. Please book in with our Nurses for this. You will need to phone and request a blood test prior to your visit.
Asthma. Many asthmatics put up with poor asthma control. If you use your blue reliever more than twice per week or you find yourself coughing, wheezing or feeling short of breath, you need an asthma review. Please book in to see any of our nurses.
Cervical screening. Michelle P and Julia are the clinics qualified nurse smear takers.
Stop Smoking Support. If you are thinking about stopping smoking, there are lots of options to help you. Book in to see our nurses.

Skin Checks

Skin cancer is particularly common in New Zealand. A thorough skin check should be carried out every year or two, especially in fair skinned people. Any new skin spots that are unusual should be checked out as soon as possible.

Visiting Specialists

Our visiting specialists include:

Radiography team from Canterbury DHB – weekly
Rural Mental Health Team Canterbury DHB
CAF North (Child Adolescent Family)
Audika – fortnightly
Footwerks Podiatry – monthly
Community Dental
Kaikoura Eyecare including diabetic retinopathy
Rheumatology Canterbury DHB
Dietician provided by Pegasus Health
Diabetic Outreach Clinic
Newborn vision & hearing
Geriatrician from Older Persons Health Canterbury DHB
Older Persons Mental Health Canterbury DHB
CanBreathe Spirometry
Terry Creagh (Plastic Surgeon)

Enquiries regarding appointments for these can be made by contacting our reception team.

Test Results

When you have tests ordered you should clarify with the doctor on how best to inform you of results, if necessary. Our doctors check incoming results every day. Unfortunately we are not able to contact everyone regarding their results, and therefore do not routinely do so if they are normal. If you have significant abnormal results we will always contact you, hence it is important that you keep all contact phone numbers (and address) up to date. However, if results are of a critical nature, or you have any skin lesions removed, and you don’t hear back from us within a week, you should ring to check your results with one of our nurses but in some circumstances you may need to make an appointment with your doctor to have your results explained.

Your results are now available online through our patient portal. My Indici – Please register to receive results online.

Youth Health

Health care for young people aged up to 20 years

Seeking health care isn’t always easy for young people! Sometimes you don’t want to make a fuss. You might worry about being judged or feeling embarrassed. Sometimes it might feel a bit daunting to make an appointment and get here.

We want our health centre to make young people feel valued and welcome so here are a few tips if you have been thinking about getting some help from us.

Privacy: From the age of 16 you are entitled to have your health information kept confidential. For the most under 16 year olds we would also maintain confidentiality unless there was a serious threat to your safety or to the safety of somebody else. We do use mobile phones for communication so please check that we have your correct number.

Appointments: You can make a booking by calling the practice. Be sure to give the receptionist your mobile number as we will send a reminder text to you the evening before your appointment. We do have an online booking service, but you will need to register for this. Our receptionists will be happy to show you how to do this.

Mental Health: Young people may experience distress and unhappiness in many forms. It is a difficult time of life! If you are struggling, reach out to us for help. We can help sort out what is going on and direct you to the right help.

Here are some useful links:

www.anxiety.org.nz/24hr-anxiety-helpline/1737.org.nz

www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/teens-young-adults/

Here is a link to a series of videos that explain the different roles of health professionals you may be referred to by your GP.

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/m/mental-health-youth/

Sexual Health: If you are worried that you have an STI it is important to get checked.

If you are worried that you are pregnant or you need contraception please call and arrange to see a nurse or doctor. We can provide you with condoms if you need them. Care related to sexual health for those under 21 is free.

Fees: If you have difficulty in accessing money to pay for your visit we may be able assist. You can also pay for your consultation through internet banking after your consultation.