Dear General Practices,

As one of our valued primary health partners, we are thrilled to announce that we are opening a new Urgent Care Clinic at 50 Greville Road, Albany which will be open 8am-8pm seven days a week from Thursday 22^nd August.

This purpose-built Urgent Care facility will replace the aging Northcross premises which has proudly served the North Shore and Rodney communities for 27 years.

Joining us for the move to Greville Road are Canopy Imaging (formally known as TRG Imaging) offering Xray and Ultrasound services.

To round out our services we will also offer on-site physiotherapy and hand therapy, with multiple pharmacies adjacent.

The Greville Road location offers ample patient parking, safe entry and exit to the site, plus excellent motorway access for patients coming from the Hibiscus Coast or West Auckland – only 15 minutes from Silverdale, and 10 minutes from Hobsonville Point.

Important dates for you to know:

• Sunday 18^th August – Final operating date of Shorecare Northcross, closing at 6pm (Please refer your patients to Smales Farm).
• Monday 19^th to Wednesday 21^st August – Our Smales Farm location will continue to operate as usual, open 24 hours.
• Thursday 22^nd August – Shorecare Greville Road opens at 8am

We are excited for this move and will continue to update you over the next couple of months.

Together, we can provide exceptional care to our patients. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Ngā mihi,​​​​

Shorecare

09 486 7777
​admin@shorecare.co.nz

http://www.shorecare.co.nz/

Newsletter

Click the following link to download out latest Newsletter –  Browns_Bay_Family_Doctors_Newsletter_Dec2022

The recipients of the 2023 Comprehensive Care Provider Awards were announced as follows:

General Practice Innovation & Quality in Service Delivery Award
Browns Bay Family Doctors
GASP Nurse of the Year Award
Sheryl Pawley (Browns Bay Family Doctors)
Administrator of the Year Award
Liz Scott (Browns Bay Family Doctors)
Rookie Nurse – Special mention/Runner up
Amy Zhao (Browns Bay Family Doctors)

 Bexsero Meningococcal B Vaccine

Pharmac will fund Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) from 1 March 2023 to protect against meningococcal disease in children up to 12 months of age, administered as part of the childhood immunisation programme at 3-, 5- and 12-months vaccination events. It will also be funded for people aged 13 to 25 years who are entering into or in their first year of specified close-living situations. Catch up programmes will also be funded for these groups. You may purchase this vaccine if not eligible for funding.

 FLU VACCINES

Flu vaccinations: are recommended for everyone and are Free to People aged 65 years and over, Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over, Pregnant people, People who have a long-term medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or a heart condition (ages 6 months+),Tamariki aged 3 – 12 and People with serious mental health or addiction needs.
For those not funded by the Government, the cost is $40.00. Please phone reception to book in for your flu vaccination

All New Zealanders aged 30 and over will be able to access the new COVID-19 XBB1.5 as part of the Government’s plan to keep Kiwis safe and take pressure off our health system.

The new vaccine will replace the existing Pfizer booster and is considered likely to be more effective against new Omicron subvariants.

From 7 March, anyone 30 years or over will be eligible to receive the new vaccine, as long as it has been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test.

People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will also be able to receive an additional booster, regardless of how many doses they have previously had.

This may be given at the same time as your annual Flu vaccine. We hope to be able to provide this service again soon, currently available at Unichem Pharmacy Browns Bay.>

MMR Vaccine: is the best way to protect against measles, mumps and rubella. While these infections may be mild in some people, they can cause serious complications in others.
Anyone born on/after 1 January 1969 who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine should have the MMR vaccine.
Adults born before 1969 are considered to be immune to measles as measles was very infectious before 1969, and there was no vaccine available in Aotearoa New Zealand until then, so most adults were highly likely to be exposed. The MMR vaccine may still be needed for protection from mumps and rubella – check with your doctor if you are not sure.

The MMR vaccine is part of the [childhood immunisation schedule](https://www.healthed.govt.nz/system/files/resource-files/HE1308_National%20Immunisation%20Schedule_0.pdf) for children at 12 months and 15 months of age.

In New Zealand there the shingles vaccine is Shingrix.
This vaccine is available to anyone 50 years and older but only free (funded) for people who are 65 years of age. Read more about Shingles vaccines here. Shingles vaccine | Health Navigator NZ

CSC HOLDERS

From the 1st December 2018, the Government is introducing reduced fees for Community Services Card holders and zero fees for Under 14’s.

If you are eligible this will mean that your fees to see the doctor will be reduce.   The reduced fees will also apply to ACC Visits.
0-13 years           Free
14-17 years         $13.00
18 + years           $19.00

To qualify for these reduced fees you MUST have a current Community Services Card.   If at the time of your consultation we are not able to confirm your eligibility the standard (non CSC) rate will be charged.

If you have a Super Gold Card you still may NOT be eligible, you need to check the back of the card for the ‘CSC’ number and expiry date.

To find out if you are eligible for a CSC Card, contact Work and Income:
Under 65 years                 0800 559 009
Over 65 years                   0800 552 002

BOOKING APPOINTMENTS AND REQUESTING REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ONLINE

Have you signed up yet???
As some of you are aware, we now have the Manage My Health Patient Portal up and running, so appointments with the doctors can now be made online 24/7 as well as requesting repeat prescriptions and viewing your laboratory results. If you haven’t registered to do this as yet you can click the link on the right and follow the instructions as you go. Very easy and very convenient.