- General Health and Wellness
- Minor Surgery
- Immunisations
- Womens Health
- Chronic Disease Management
Minor surgery is commonly provided in primary care practices, providing fast, competent removal and biopsies of skin lesions. Other services include cosmetic work such as removal of benign moles and skin tags. Ingrown toenail surgery is also commonly provided.
These conditions do not need to be referred to a hospital, perhaps saving you a long wait or a cancelled appointment when a more serious case takes priority.
If your doctor is unable to provide the procedure you need, he/she may know a neighbouring GP who does. Otherwise, the PHO will have a list of GPs trained in particular operations.
- Skin lesion removals
- Skin cancer assessments
- Vasectomy
- Ingrown toe nail surgery
Each GP surgery or primary care practice will have its own procedure for repeat prescribing but the following rules are common to most, if not all. Patients who are well-known to the practice who have a stable condition like asthma, hypertension or diabetes could be allowed to get a repeat prescription for up to six months. Repeat prescriptions are never given to patients who are not known to the practice and there is probably a blanket ban on repeats for narcotics and other drugs that could be misused as doctors are expected to monitor these drugs carefully.
We are happy to do phone scripts for medicines that patients are stable on. There is also the ability to request a repeat prescription for regular medication through our patient portal.
We prefer to see all patients within a 6 month time frame. We will not prescribe this way if more than a year has elapsed since a consultation has taken place. This is a medico-legal requirement. It may be necessary to come in for a consultation with the nurse or Doctor before a repeat script can be given.
In the event you have run out of necessary medication completely and if you are a known patient of ours and the Waimauku Pharmacy, the Pharmacist can issue an 'emergency supply' for 7 days only. You must then ensure you contact us to initiate your repeat script.
- Allow 2 business days for checking and issuing
- It is preferable that scripts are paid for when ordered, to avoid a charge at the end of the month
- We do not email scripts
If a man decides he does not want to father children, he may choose to have a vasectomy which is a simple and effective method of sterilisation. During this surgical procedure, the vas deferens (the tubes carrying sperm from the testicles to the penis) are cut. A vasectomy can be carried out in a doctor's surgery and takes between 30 and 60 minutes.
This service is offered by Dr Harry Hillebrand who has over 20 years experience with vasectomies. A consultation with Dr Hillebrand is required before making an appointment for the vasectomy procedure. Vasectomies can be scheduled out of routine surgery hours if requested.
Please contact the surgery to arrange your appointment and discuss costs.
Sometimes your doctor needs to take a sample of blood or urine either to discover what is wrong with you or to measure something in your blood so that the right medication is given to you. These tests could be anything from blood sugar to a full blood count or a sample of tissue to test for cancer.
While urine can generally be tested in the surgery, blood and other specimens are usually sent away for testing at a laboratory. Most results come back within 48 hours unless a very rare test is needed which has to go to a specialist lab further away when it might take a little longer.
For abnormal results the practice nurse or doctor will attempt to contact you; a current cell phone number is preferable.
We do not notify you if your results are normal.
Using the Patient Portal is an ideal way to view your recent lab results, but they will not be displayed in the Portal until they are back from the laboratory and viewed/actioned by the Doctor/Nurse. This can take up to 5 to 10 days depending on the test ordered.
Results are only given to the adult patient they pertain to unless there is prior arrangement for someone else to phone.
Liquid nitrogen is a fast, effective treatment provided in many practices to treat viral warts, sun damaged skin, skin tags and many benign cosmetic lesions. It comes in a container with a nozzle and is usually applied by swab or spray. Often one treatment is all that is needed but sometimes it may need repeating after two weeks.
Because it cannot be stored for too long, you will often find that your GP will treat a number of patients one after the other.
We have liquid nitrogen available every day. Nurses can administer this after consultation with the doctor. It is an excellent therapy for some warts, sun damaged skin and many other types of benign skin abnormality. Healing usually occurs without scarring.
For more information click here.
An Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) is inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. Depending on the type of device, it will need to be changed after between three and five years.
One particular brand of IUCD is often used to reduce heavy bleeding during periods.
Mirena insertion by Dr Hillebrand and Dr Boorsma.
Immunisations are provided at all primary care practices and are one of the most important services they provide. Immunisation has led to the decline of many lethal diseases including meningococcal B meningitis.
The National Immunisation Schedule offers a series of vaccines free to babies, children, adolescents and adults. Visit the Ministry of Health website here to find out what vaccines are on the Schedule and when they are given. Additional vaccines are provided free for certain eligible groups considered to be at high risk because of other medical conditions; find out more here . These and other vaccines such as travel vaccines can be purchased by other people if they want them.
Immunisations are given by a practice nurse or doctor, having ensured beforehand that the person is not ill or suffering from allergies. Risks associated with immunisation are very rare.
Children have their own document to keep a record of these injections. Under the age of 5 this is usually their Well Child/Tamariki Ora My Health Book. The immunisation record may need to be shown, for example, when starting school or early childcare. The staff will also record the immunisation details on New Zealand’s National Immunisation Register. This computerised information system holds details of all immunisations given to children here and will alert families when immunisations are due.
Full childhood, teenage and travel vaccine service offered.
From July 1st, 2017 the Chickenpox Vaccine will become part of the schedule at 15 months. Any child born after April 1st, 2016 is entitled to this free. Any children born before April 1st, 2016 who have this vaccination, will be charged $85.00.
If you anticipate overseas travel that requires travel vaccines, we encourage you do so 6 weeks before you leave if able.
All women who have ever been sexually active should have regular cervical smear tests every three years between the ages of 20 and 70. This includes women who have been immunised against HPV. This test detects abnormal cells which, if left untreated, could become cervical cancer. Very often these cells are made abnormal by a human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted virus. Regular tests and treatment reduces the likelihood of this sort of cancer by around 90%.
For more information about cervical smear tests click here to the National Screening Unit website.
All doctors can perform smears at Waimauku Doctors. If you would prefer we also have a Nurse smear taker at Waimauku Doctors and also at our other site Silver Fern Medical.
An ECG is a recording of your heart's electrical activity. Electrode patches are attached to your skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm.
We have state of the art equipment with integration into patient record software.
Spirometry is available at Waimauku Doctors. It is a tool that measures how effectively your lungs are working. It is able to show how much air lungs are able to hold (their volume) and how much air can be breathed in and out (inhaled and exhaled) which is called flow. This tool is used to assess damage caused by conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – a group that includes bronchitis and emphysema), pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and asthma. Results are shown on a graph called a pneumotachograph.
For more information click the link here.
Another service offered to you at your GP surgery (primary care practice) is Travel Health advice and immunisation before you go to another country. While you are likely to have the immunisations needed to live in New Zealand, there may be other injections you need to protect yourself before going for example to Africa or South America. In some places you will need protection from rabies or malaria. Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at approved centres; please click here to view the centres in the Auckland region. Your doctor will be able to tell you what diseases you will need to be protected from in any named country and advise you on other medical matters.
Ideally 6 weeks before travelling is a good time to get your vaccinations.
All New Zealand children are entitled to 11 free health checks from birth to three years. The checks aim to ensure that children are growing and developing as well as possible. Included in the checks are clinical assessment, health education and family/whanau support.
Baby checks are at birth and then at 24 hours, five days and around 2-4 weeks. Babies are weighed and measured to ensure that they are developing correctly. These sessions provide a great opportunity for parents to ask questions from an expert and have any problem addressed; difficulties with breastfeeding or sleep for example. They can also be used to discuss immunisations and vaccinations. These checks will be carried out by your lead maternity carer (LMC).
Between the ages of 4-6 weeks and three years, there are seven core health checks available, typically these are around 4-6 weeks, 8-10 weeks, 3-4 months, 5-7 months, 9-12 months, 15-18 months and 2-3 years. These checks may be carried out by a Well Child Provider of your choice e.g. Plunket, Maori health provider, community nurse, a general practice team (doctor and practice nurse). Your LMC will be able to give you a list of Well Child Providers in your area.
More information about Well Child services is available on the Ministry of Health website.
Waimauku Doctors is very keen to promote good child health. All our nurses are trained in child development and advice. We also have baby scales and length measures.