Happy Holidays!

The Christmas buzz is in the air, and we want to remind our patients that Ostend Medical Centre will be CLOSED on 25th/26th December and 1st/2nd January.

If you need an urgent medical appointment on one of the Public Holidays, you have access to the Ka Ora Rural Telecare service:  Ka Ora Telecare. Ka Ora is open 5pm-8:30am on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays.   

How it works:  Call 0800 252 672.  You will first be greeted by a Kaiawhina or a Nurse. The team will assess your health needs, and you can either see a GP or Nurse Practitioner directly or you choose to schedule an appointment later in the day/evening.  Alternatively, you can use the ‘Book Appointment’ button on the website to schedule a specific time to connect with the medical team. 

Cost:  Appointments range from free for children, $19.50 for CSC card holders and older patients, to $79/$99 for adult appointments.  This makes Ka Ora a great option for kids, who often become unwell overnight. 

Some of our patients may also want to try CareHQ, which provides free telehealth services for Southern Cross members.  CareHQ is also open 24 hours a day on Public Holidays and bookings can be made online at https://www.carehq.co.nz/ or via the CareHQ app.     

Telehealth appointments are ideal for the following situations: 

• Urgent prescriptions  
• Cold & flu symptoms 
• Burning/stinging when passing urine 
• Skin and eye irritations 
• Stomachache, vomiting, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea 
• Sprains and strains 

Of course, if you need immediate, urgent care, please call 111. 
 

Changes to Prescriptions Coming

Patients are starting to see advertisements and news coverage about national changes to the prescription renewal process, so we want to help you understand what’s coming on 1 February 2026 and how it may impact your medications.

Currently, prescriptions for most medicines are limited to a maximum duration of 3 months, which means people who have stable, long-term conditions need to regularly see their clinician to continue accessing their medications.  At your first medication review following the legislation change, the clinician will discuss your eligibility to move to 12-month prescriptions and talk with you about whether this is a good idea in your individual case.  You may be eligible to go to 12-month scripts if:

• Your condition and medication dose have been stable for at least 6 months
• You don’t need regular monitoring like blood tests or blood pressure checks
• The medicine is approved for 12-month prescribing
• You agree to a yearly in-person review to check the medicine is still suitable.

Some prescriptions will not be eligible for 12-month instalments, such as controlled medications or those that require monitoring.  The clinician may also decide that it’s important in your individual case to continue to see you more regularly, especially if your health condition is complex or you are on multiple medications.  Please understand that your health and safety will be at the centre of any decision made about your care.

The shift to 12-month prescriptions is expected to mostly affect people on long-term medicines like asthma inhalers, diabetes medicines, and blood pressure tablets.  It will also apply to oral contraceptives.  You will still collect medicines in 3-month instalments from the same pharmacy but will only need to pay a co-payment fee (e.g. $5) on the first collection. You will not be able to collect 12 months’ worth of your medication at once, even with a 12-month prescription.

We’re here to answer any questions you may have and will be sure to keep you updated as we get closer to the changeover in February.  And just a final reminder that you won’t be eligible for longer prescriptions until you have had your next scheduled medication review following 1 February.

A Warm Welcome to Dr Amy Nunn

We’re thrilled to introduce the newest addition to our Ostend Medical Centre family, especially as it’s not often that we have such a close connection to celebrate … meet Dr Amy Nunn, sister of our wonderful Dr Zoe Douglass!

Our patients have been taking great advantage of virtual consults over the past few years, so Amy has now signed on to provide telehealth services for our patients from her home in Wānaka.  Amy will be online with our Ostend Medical patients every Tuesday morning, enabling you to get to know her and establish a strong working relationship in regards to your care.

Amy says, ‘Kia Ora, Waiheke! I moved from the UK to NZ to be near my sister, Dr Zoe, and am delighted to now be able to work alongside her.  I love being a GP and I’m passionate about proactive, lifestyle medicine and women’s health.  I’m a Wānaka resident, enthusiastic outdoor adventurer and mother to a fabulous 11-year-old.’

Call us today on 372 5005 to book with either one of these amazing sister GPs!

My Indici with Mangaia

The My Indici app is the easiest way to order prescriptions, check your test results and send messages to the clinic.  However, we know that technology isn’t everyone’s favourite thing, so our wonderful Admin Lead Mangaia is offering an ‘Indici for Everyone’ workshop in January that will get you in control of your tech AND your healthcare.

Date:  Tuesday 27 January 11-11:45am
Place:  St John Hall, 5 Belgium Street

This is a friendly, hands-on workshop designed to help you feel confident in navigating the My Indici app.  Whether you struggle with ordering prescriptions, checking results, sending messages, or simply understanding how the app works, this session will guide you step-by-step in a calm, supportive environment.

In the workshop Mangaia will teach you how to:

• Log in securely and understand MFA (multi factor authenticator)
• View your lab results and medical records
• Update your personal details
• Send and receive messages

No technical knowledge is required!  Mangaia will go slowly, explain things clearly, and give you time to practice as you go.  By the end, you’ll feel more confident and ready to use My Indici independently.  The only things you need to bring are optimism, patience and the electronic device(s) that you would like to use for the app, such as your phone, tablet or laptop.

To allow for personal support, the workshop will be limited to 10 people, so call us today on 372 5005 to book your place.

Walk This Way: A Simple Way to Stay Balanced Over the Holidays

As we speed towards Christmas and ramp up the socialising, eating, spending and stress, our Health Coach Jacki says that it’s worth remembering that one of the simplest ways to keep things balanced and under control is to build in regular walks.  Walking is free, calming, and a great way to escape mounting pressure (and that difficult relative).

In Waiheke we’re spoilt for choice with beautiful places to move.  From bush tracks and coastal paths to long stretches of sandy beach, walking offers a chance to clear your head, support your body, and justify the extra serve of Pavlova.

A growing body of research highlights just how powerful walking can be for our health.  Regular walking is linked with lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, and it can improve mood, sleep, and everyday energy levels.  Even a daily 30-minute walk offers substantial benefits.  Walking after meals is particularly effective – just 10 to 15 minutes can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce post-meal energy dips.  Walking also supports healthy blood pressure, strengthens bones, keeps joints moving comfortably, and boosts circulation. The mental health lift is equally impressive: the steady rhythm of walking helps calm the nervous system, and time spent in nature – whether in the bush, along the coast, or on a quiet track – further reduces stress hormones and sharpens focus.

The post-Christmas week of what-day-is-it-anyway, is an ideal time to build a regular walking habit.  With longer days and more flexibility, it’s easier to explore new tracks, fit in an early morning loop, or turn an evening stroll into a relaxed social catch-up.  Walking supports physical health, mental clarity and overall wellbeing, and it’s completely free.  It’s one of the most reliable ways to feel better now while investing in your health for the year ahead.

And, don’t forget, that something else completely free for our patients are appointments with our incredible Health Coach, Jacki.  If you’d like to work with Jacki on your health goals related to diet, exercise or condition management, give us a call on 372 5005 to book today.

HIP Tips for Christmas and New Year

Christmas and New Year are a time for coming together and celebrating with whānau and friends.  It can also be a stressful time of year.  Here are some tips to consider from Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) Rozanne to ease the stress:

• It doesn’t have to be perfect.  If things don’t go quite to plan don’t sweat, it. Enjoy what it is.
• Consider a buffet style feast, where everyone brings a plate.
• Recognise and respect that everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Agree to disagree if opinions differ.
• Small steps get you there and a New Year’s resolution doesn’t have to be huge. For example, take time out once a week to be in nature, or take a walk on the beach weekly if you find it hard to exercise but want to change this.

Have a restorative and happy Christmas and New Year and remember, support from Rozanne is completely free if you’d like more practical tips for your health and wellbeing in 2026.