A Warm Welcome to Practice Nurse Sam Voss

Ostend Medical Centre is thrilled to welcome UK-trained Nurse Practitioner Sam Voss to our clinic family.   

Sam qualified as a nurse in 2008 and has spent her career living and working in many of the same facilities and communities around Brighton, England as our very own Dr Zoe Douglass!  After working in hospitals for her first eight years post-training, Sam found her calling in primary care in 2016 where she worked as a Practice Nurse and Senior Practice Nurse prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner in 2024.   

Sam’s professional interests focus on diabetes, respiratory conditions, endocrinology and managing minor illnesses.  She’s already putting her expertise to work at Ostend Medical by rolling out nurse-led annual reviews for patients with diabetes and by providing leadership to our nurse, paramedic and health care assistant team. 

And while we’re feeling really fortunate to have recruited Sam to the clinic, we’re even more excited that she will be joined by a second internationally trained Nurse Practitioner, Canadian Catherine Habel, in June.  Unfortunately, overseas Nurse Practitioner qualifications don’t transfer directly to New Zealand, but we know that with the support of our team, especially current Nurse Practitioner Erica Wright, Sam and Catherine will get through their additional requirements as quickly as possible and then be able to practice within their full scope.   

Again, a warm welcome to Sam, and a big thank you to all of our patients who offered housing to Sam and her family on their arrival.  We’re pleased to report that she and her family have settled in well and are loving island life! 

Book Your Flu Shot Today 

The 2026 flu vaccine is now available and recommended for everyone over 6 months old.  It is updated annually to match the strains of flu that are circulating, so even if you had a flu vaccination last year, it’s important to come in for this year’s version.   

The flu vaccine is free for high-risk groups, such as those aged 65 and over, pregnant people, and those with specific health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes.  For everyone else, we’re keeping the price consistent from last year at $35.  And while you’re at it, ask our reception team if you’re also due for your COVID-19 booster, as we can typically administer both at the same appointment and save you another trip into the clinic.  

Flu is highly contagious and can be deadly, so getting vaccinated reduces your risk of serious illness and helps to protect your loved ones, especially vulnerable family members and friends.  Call us to book your quick and easy appointment today.

Weight Loss Medication Management 

Ostend Medical Centre has introduced a comprehensive approach to weight loss medication management for our patients. 

GLP-1 medications, such as Wegovy and Saxenda, have been approved by Medsafe for patients who have a BMI over 30, or 27 in the case of patients with some co-morbidities.  For successful weight management, it is important that wrap-around support is provided by the patient’s healthcare provider when starting these medications – programmes that can cost well over $1000 with private providers.    

To support our patients both comprehensively and affordably, we have designed a three-month programme for our patients starting GLP-1 medications that will be made up of: 

• An initial consultation with a GP or Nurse Practitioner to determine that GLP-1 medication is the right approach for you.  This will include a discussion of your health history and weight loss goals, available treatment options, expected outcomes and ongoing support. 
• A follow-up appointment at the one month point with an experienced nurse to discuss how your weight loss is going and manage any concerns. 
• An additional appointment at the three month point with the nurse to check in and determine the stabilisation of your medication dose. 
• Referrals to our Health Coach and/or Health Improvement Practitioner for free, on-going support of your weight loss goals. 

Charges for the three-month programme will be $150 for the initial consultation and then $30 for each of the two nurse appointments. By scheduling the follow-up visits with our experienced nurses and utilising our Health Coach and Health Improvement Practitioner for ongoing patient support, we can keep the costs of this programme well below private rates and save patients from having to pay for multiple GP consultations, while providing excellent wrap-around care.

Stronger for Life: Why Resistance Training Matters at Every Age 

While the benefits of walking are generally well known, there is less awareness of one of the most powerful tools for ageing well: strength training. Strength (or resistance) training doesn’t just keep you looking good and able to lift the grandchildren, it protects your bones, helps manage your blood sugar, keeps your weight down and your metabolism working efficiently. Researchers have been studying strength training for decades, and find it benefits nearly every system in the body.  

In one fascinating study, 300 pairs of female twins were followed over for more than a decade. It was found that the women with greater leg strength at the start of the study experienced better cognitive ageing and had larger brain volumes years later — even when genetics and lifestyle factors were accounted for. This suggests that muscle strength, particularly in the legs, isn’t just about mobility — it’s tied to brain health too. A growing body of research also shows that resistance training can improve cognitive function in older adults, including memory, attention, and executive function, whether done alone or alongside mental tasks.  

Strength training has also been linked with a lower mortality risk. Large observational studies show that adults who include resistance training twice a week or more, have a significantly lower risk of dying from any cause, including heart disease and cancer, compared with those who do less strength work. Other research suggests that adults who train regularly have longer telomeres — tiny markers of cellular age — equivalent to roughly three to four years less biological ageing than those who don’t strength train. So, it is certainly worth focussing on those muscles! 

You don’t need to be daunted by the need for a gym membership or the thought of hours of heavy lifting. Two or three sessions a week of simple resistance exercises — using bodyweight, bands, dumbbells or even a couple of plastic milk bottles full of water — is enough, as long as large muscle groups, such as the legs, are included. As with all good habits, consistency matters more than intensity with small, regular efforts adding up to big long-term gains. By making strength training a regular part of your week, you’re not just building muscle — you’re building resilience, independence, and the capacity to continue to be fully involved in life as you age.  

And if you’d like a bit of support and camaraderie as you incorporate strength training into your week, our Health Coach Jacki and Health Improvement Practitioner Rozanne run a FREE and friendly exercise group each Monday in the St John Hall.  Call us on 372 5005 to learn more.