WINTER 2009 NEWSLETTER

It has indeed been a busy winter this year with a focus on “swine flu”.  Thank you for your patience as we have had to work through changing protocols from the Ministry of Health regarding swabbing, tamiflu and home isolation.  Thank you also to those with respiratory symptoms for your willingness to put on masks to assist our endeavours in keeping our waiting room as free of bugs as is possible.  Many of you will have noticed nurses and doctors wearing masks as they attend to you.  We have been fortunate not to have any severe illness amongst our staff over this time.

Although the flu vaccine does not prevent swine flu, it is effective against the three “biggies” from last year’s influenza viruses, and will help stimulate your immune system.  For those of you who are still considering the flu vaccine, it is being offered free to everyone until the end of September, so it is not too late to have it!  Make an appointment to see one of the nurses.

MEASLES OUTBREAK

There is currently a measles epidemic throughout the country.  Please make sure your children’s vaccinations are up to date.  They should have received an MMR vaccine at 15 months and 4 years.  If you were born after 1969 and have not had measles vaccination, you should have a primary course of 2 MMRs. Please contact a nurse for further information.

NEW  PATIENTS

Dr Eugeen Ong is taking on new patients, but the other doctors have full registers.  If at all possible, you will be booked to see the doctor that you are registered with.  If this is not possible in the time frame you would like, then we are happy to book you in with another doctor as we are able to.

If you need an emergency appointment, please phone and talk to one of the nurses and they will arrange for you to be seen as is appropriate.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Many of you will have noticed that we now have an answer phone system.  We encourage you to leave a message for the nurses or receptionists, especially in the busy times such as first thing in the morning.  We try to return your calls as speedily as possible.  Ideally, would you please ring after 10:00 for prescription requests and laboratory results. 

LABORATORY

In September, “Labtests” takes over the contract  of the bulk of laboratory testing for the Auckland’ District Health Boards.  There will be lab rooms in Browns Bay and we will endeavour to keep you fully informed of the changes as more information becomes available.

PRESCRIPTION REPEATS

As well as phoning, you can also request prescriptions on line via nurse@brownsbaymed.co.nz

These emails are cleared twice a day.

Prescription requests require 24 hours notice.  They will be ready for collection after 2pm the next day. 

There is now a $22 charge for urgent same day prescriptions.

There is also a $22 charge for prescriptions that you wish to have faxed to a pharmacy.  We prefer you to give us the name, postal address and fax number of your pharmacy, so that we are sending the fax, and then mailing the prescription, to exactly where you want it to go.

We have fixed protocols for the issuing of repeat prescriptions without seeing the Doctor.  This is for your own safety.  Depending on your prescription, you may be asked by a nurse to see your Doctor. 

LIFESTYLE CLINICS

A reminder that the nurses run lifestyle clinics for asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and smoking.  These are, generally, half hour appointments and cost $30 per session.  You may qualify under the CarePlus programme to have this funded.  Please talk to your doctor or one of the nurses about these.  The nurses are happy to share  their knowledge with you in order to keep you as healthy as possible.

STAFF   CHANGES

We now have Dr Susan Hawken working with us on a Friday afternoon.  Ladies, Sue has worked with Family Planning and would be a great choice to book with for your cervical smear and mammogram checks if you prefer a female doctor.  Sue will not have patients registered directly with her, but will see patients registered under any of the other doctors.

We farewelled our receptionist, Sharyn Bethune in July.  Sharyn was accepted into a nursing training course.  Whilst we are sad to say goodbye, we wish her well in this new phase of her life.

We welcome Julie Nelmes to our reception team.  You may already have encountered her friendly smile if you have been in to see us in the last couple of weeks!  It has not taken her long to settle in!

In July, we also farewelled our nurse, Bev Harrison.  Bev has officially retired, and we do thank her for her hard work at Browns Bay Medical Centre over the last three years.  It was great to have her back relieving the week after she retired (!), and you may see her from time to time as we need relief staff. 

We welcome Beth Jackson to our nursing team.  Many of you will have met Beth while she did 12 weeks Primary Care training with us.  We are delighted to have her as a permanent member of our team.