We are sad to say haere rā to Dr Joanne, who has left to go on maternity leave. We have really enjoyed working with Dr Joanne and we wish her and her family all the very best.
We all face challenges to our mental health. Depression and anxiety changes the way we think, feel and deal with tough times.
Mr Mike King, who put his successful comedy career on hold to campaign on mental health issues, in a recent interview says:
"One of the biggest problems we have is this myth there are signs," he told The AM Show. "If someone is down in the dumps, they're in the corner, they're put off their food, they're not sleeping - guess what? That's the flu. There are no signs. There is one sign, and one sign only - and that sign is if I tell you.
Now the problem we have in New Zealand society and all around the world is the problem isn't the person in crisis. It's the rest of us who aren't in crisis, but whose often judgemental attitidue is having the biggest effect.
There's one sign and one sign only people are suicidal - if they tell you. And the only time they're going to tell you is if you have kindness in your heart and make it okay for people to talk".
NHMC is open Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm
and Saturday mornings 9.00am - 12 midday.
If you need medical care outside of our office hours,
we suggest the following A&E's:
Shorecare - Northcross or Smales Farm - ph 09-486 7777
Prescriptions - Update
We have had an increase in prescriptions being requested late in the day or on 'short notice' (ie. scripts wanted within 1-2 hours). We are happy to accommodate these urgent requests, but as these are deemed 'short notice', they will incur an extra cost.
Same day prescription
- ordered before 12 midday ..... $22.00
Same day prescription
- ordered after 12 midday ..... $25.00
Six Monthly Reviews
It is NHMC practice policy that patients are required to be seen by their Doctor at least ONCE every SIX months. This is also a Ministry of Health requirement.
If you have not been seen within six months, your prescription will not be issued without a review taking place.
It is important as part of your ongoing health care to review your medications on a regular basis, check your blood pressure and ensure medically, the medication is still correct for you.
If you have any queries regarding this, please feel free to discuss with your Doctor.
Breathe Better September aims to raise awareness about asthma and respiratory disease.
Did you know that 63 people die from asthma each year in New Zealand?
If you are having problems controlling your asthma, speak to your GP or our nurses, phone 4792083
If you have asthma or airways disease - we offer free 30 minute nurse clinics. We will contact you through our recall system, but if you haven't heard from us and are interested, please feel free to call us to book in.
We also offer Diabetic, Cardiovascular, Smoking Cessation and "Careplus" nurse clinics. You will be contacted if you are eligible.
PS. You cannot book these via the CM booking system. Phone us on 479 2083.
We look forward to hearing from you.
TRAVEL VACCINES
As travel vaccines need to be prescribed by a Doctor before nursing staff can administer, an appointment is required prior to having travel vaccines.
Travel vaccinations are also very expensive and we do not hold a large stock in the rooms. Our procedure is:
1. Consult with Doctor - discuss where you are
going and what vaccines are relevant.
2. Pre-pay for your vaccines.
3. NHMC ordersvaccine. They usually arrive
within a week.
4. Make an appointmentto see the Nurse to have the vaccine administered.
Your other options are to go to the Travel Clinic or have a look at these websites which may answer any questions:
Payment for all services are expected to be paid at the time of your consult or on receipt of invoices posted to you. Invoices are to be paid on or before the 1st of each month. These terms are clearly noted on your invoice (which is posted out on the day of service), within the rooms and in newsletters.
We do not hold accounts.
NHMC expects that the service provided to you is paid for on the day OR same day overnight by internet banking unless arrangements have been made by phoning and discussing payment.
LOOKING FOR RESULTS?
CHECK ON CONNECTMED!
Our online patient portal is very popular!
If you haven't jumped aboard the Connectmed bus yet - c'mon, get your skates on!!
You can do the basic registration via our website (www.nhmc.co.nz) which allows you to book appointments and order prescriptions.
To view your test results, you will need to complete a form in the rooms, which elevates your security level to allow test result viewing.
Please note: when you sign up to CM at home - remember to add our practice. You can find instructions to do this on the CM knowledge base if you get stuck. https://help.connectmed.co.nz/Main/
The number of Kiwis carrying drug-resistant super-bugs is set to double this year.
There have already been 34 cases of people with carbapenem-resistant organism (CRO) in 2018, compared to just 33 for all of 2017, according to figures from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
A decade ago, there were only on average six a year, and microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles says things are likely to get worse.
"We're just at the very beginning of it popping up here... the worry is that there have been 30 people already, and we're only in August."
CRO's are a family of bacteria which have developed resistance to all but the strongest antibiotics currently available. They produce carbapenemase, which disables carbapenem antibiotics. If those drugs don't work, then doctors are required to use even stronger antibiotics.
"We call them the antibiotics of last resort, because they're really quite toxic. They're not very nice drugs at all," says Dr Wiles.
The bugs are generally picked up overseas, usually in India, southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands. So far, none of the cases have resulted in untreatable infections.
"Most of the cases here are in people who pick up this bacteria overseas - generally if they've been hospitalised overseas they'll pick it up, and then they'll come in. A lot of the people who we found have it in New Zealand... they just are colonised with this bacteria. They don't have an infection, but [have the potential] to pass it on to somebody who's very sick."
Why Edible Insects Are the Next Superfood Trend ...
A culture is defined by many things, and often food is high on that list.
In Western culture, our diets are earmarked by many unhealthy ingredients, most notably high amounts of sugar, salts, and fats. But there’s another item notably missing from American diets that advocates say should be incorporated into the range of foods we eat: insects.
While eating insects has been a part of other cultures for quite a while, it’s only now beginning to catch on in the United States and United Kingdom. However, it’s still far from being a mainstream on menus.
Because most Americans overlook the nutritional value of bugs, we’ve been missing out on the benefits to both human and environmental health they offer as a food source.
In 2013, the United Nations published a report estimating that two billion people worldwide eat bugs as part of their diet and urged cultures around the globe to start eating insects to help add more security to the world’s food supply.
So, if bugs are so healthy, why are some culinary appetites — particularly Western cultures — not engaging in entomophagy, or eating insects for nutrition?
The biggest hurdle is the “eww” factor.
Bugs are better for us...
Bugs, insects, and even arachnids pack more protein, pound for pound, than most traditional meat sources. They also contain enough fiber, vitamins, and minerals to rival the nutritional value of some grains, fruits, and vegetables.
