Your Health Matters This Winter
Being enrolled with us means you are eligible for subsidised GP/Nurse Practitioner consultations, along with a range of other subsidised services.
Ostend Medical Centre is part of the Waiheke Health Trust so you have access to all of the services they offer too, including:
- Community Nursing
- Well Child Nurse
- Occupational Therapy
- Radiology / X-Rays
- Social Workers
- Speech Language Therapy
- Podiatry
- Meals on Wheels
- Physiotherapy
- Home Support Services
- Dietitian
- Healthy Homes program
- Minor surgery
- Health Coach
Aotearoa Immunisation Week
Now is a great time to get your flu vaccination. Nasty bugs and diseases spread much more easily during winter as we spend more time inside in close contact with each other.
Higher rates of immunisation can help to stop our whānau and communities from getting sick.
In 2023, flu vaccinations are free for:
- Children aged 6 months to 12 years old
- Pregnant people
- Māori and Pacific people over 55
- People aged 65 and over
- People with underlying health conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and serious asthma
- People with significant mental illness such as schizophrenia or those currently accessing mental health services.
If you are not eligible for a free vaccination, it is $30.
Book an Appointment
Top 3 Myths About The Flu Vaccination
Our Nurse Practitioner, Erica Wright looks at the top 3 myths about the flu vaccination.
1) Myth: I had a flu vaccine years ago and then I got the flu anyway, so it doesn’t work.
Fact: The flu vaccine does not prevent you getting a flu virus. It programs your immune system to make the antibodies necessary to fight the more virulent viruses to prevent you becoming so unwell you might need hospitalisation.
2) Myth: The flu vaccine can give you the flu.
Fact: The flu vaccine does not ‘give you the flu’ – it is a weakened and deactivated strain of the virus that triggers your immune system to make the anti-bodies that fight a viral flu infection. If you feel slightly achy or feverish, that’s a normal reaction of the immune system to the vaccine, and generally lasts only a day or two. The full-blown flu itself is much more serious – it can be debilitating and last for weeks.
3) Myth: I’m fit and healthy and have never had flu before, so I don’t need a vaccination.
Fact: Even when you are fit and active, immunisation is still the best protection against flu. During the winter months when immune systems are functioning slower than usual, we are all at greater risk.
We Are Recruiting!
Want to join our busy clinic and professional team at the heart of the Waiheke community?
We’re seeking a GP, a Nurse Practitioner and a Primary Care Nurse.
If you would like to know more, please email [email protected]
Early Morning Virtual Appointments
Convenient health care – early morning virtual appointments are now available with Dr Zoe Douglass.
“I love the convenience of online appointments. I can see my GP in between the kids’ breakfast and getting ready for work and know that I’m taking care of my health”. OMC patient, D.
Book an online appointment with Dr Zoe
Tuesday and Thursday
7am – 10.30am
Book an Appointment
Community Funded X-Ray Machine Ensures Future of Service on The Island
The Waiheke Health Trust is a charitable trust dedicated to providing community health services for everyone on Waiheke Island.
From community nursing to home support, Tamariki Ora – Wellchild services to physiotherapy and more – chances are, if you live on the island you, or your whānau, will use our services.
The X-ray service is vital – with radiographer Monica Rae seeing up to 15 patients a day. Last year there were concerns this service would not be able to continue due to the cost of replacing equipment that was nearing the end of its working life.
Following a call out to the community in October 2022 for donations, Sacred Blessing Sanctuary Garden stepped forward without hesitation to fund a new machine.
The new equipment has now been installed and provides vastly improved imaging. Patients also benefit from a faster and more comfortable service.
The x-ray service operates Monday – Friday. Patients can be referred by their medical practitioner – a GP, Nurse Practitioner, Physiotherapist or Osteopath.
Spirometry Tests Available
Available at Ostend Medical Centre, Spirometry is the most common type of pulmonary function or breathing test.
This test measures how much air you can breathe in and out of your lungs, as well as how easily and fast you can the blow the air out of your lungs.
Your doctor may suggest a spirometry test if they suspect your signs or symptoms may be caused by a chronic lung condition such as: Asthma, COPD, Chronic bronchitis, Emphysema or Pulmonary fibrosis
If you’ve already been diagnosed with a chronic lung disorder, Spirometry may be used periodically to check how well your medications are working and whether your breathing problems are under control.
This service can be carried out by a nurse or your GP. Contact us to find out more.
Have You Discovered Our Patient Portal?
Repeat Prescriptions
- Order in person
- Via phone
- Or through the Myindici portal
Repeat Prescriptions are only available for medications previously prescribed by one of our doctors.
Please give 48hrs notice, otherwise an increased charge for a same day script will be incurred.
We aim to notify you by SMS / text when the script is ready to collect
Test Results Online
- Sign up to the my indici
- Patient portal to view
- Results online
Our doctors check incoming lab results every day. Results are available after the doctor has reviewed and filed them. You will be contacted if you have significant abnormal results, so it is important your contact details are always up to date.
If results are normal, you generally will not be contacted. Please talk to one of our nurses if you have concerns.
Could you help guide the development of health care services on Waiheke?
Do you have strong links with the community? Perhaps experience in health care, governance, marketing, accounting, law, HR or IT? Do you understand and uphold Māori tikanga and values? Would you like to make a contribution to shaping the future of Waiheke’s community health care?
We are looking for people interested in joining the Board of Trustees for the Waiheke Health Trust and also keen to connect with individuals and community groups.
Please get in touch with [email protected] to find out more.
