The Doctors NZ

Happy Islamic New Year!
May this new year bring abundant blessings, joy, and success to you and your loved ones. Let’s embrace the spirit of renewal and recommit ourselves to our values of compassion, kindness, and unity.

Today we celebrate Matariki.
Matariki is a special occasion in New Zealand, it marks the start of the Maori New Year.

Signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in our night sky, this is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month!
Being aware of the symptoms is the first step you can take to prevent bowel cancer.
The symptoms may include:
- Bleeding from the bottom (re**al bleeding)
- Change of bowel motions/habits that come and go over several weeks!
- Anaemia
- Severe persistent or periodic abdominal pain
- A lump or mass in the abdomen
- Tiredness and loss of weight for no obvious reason

Join the fight – Share this post and encourage your loved ones to get checked.
Together, we can beat bowel cancer!

Men’s Health Week aims to help you get right on top of your biggest and most important asset – your health.

For one week in June each year MHW gets to remind us of the small things we should be doing, the health routines we can understand and control.

All of us will face health problems at some stage of our lives. The more we know about what these are, the better we can face up to them or better still, avoid them.

Too many Kiwi men get sick or even die from preventable illnesses – something that maybe didn’t need to cause so much grief.

Prevention is way better than a cure; small steps can make a big difference!

Coeliac disease occurs when the immune system reacts abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and avenin in oats and damages the small intestine.

The symptoms of coeliac disease vary considerably.

Some commonly reported symptoms, may occur alone or in combination:
• Fatigue, weakness, and lethargy
• Weight loss
• Osteoporosis (thin bones)
• Diarrhoea or Chronic constipation
• Flatulence and abdominal distension
• Cramping and bloating
• Nausea and vomiting

These may begin at any age and is often present for years prior to diagnosis.
Some people are more likely to experience constipation rather than diarrhoea.

The treatment once someone is diagnosed with coeliac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet for life.

Today is a public holiday as New Zealand celebrates The Kings Birthday.

Our Doctors practices will be closed, today 3rd June.

In an emergency ring 111.

May is Cystic Fibrosis month.
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition.
You are born with CF and cannot catch it later in life, but, one in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.

The type and severity of symptoms varies between individuals – some people with CF remain well for a long period of time with minimal symptoms or hospital admissions, while others require more intensive medical care.

There is every reason to be hopeful of a cure in the future and for all people with CF live healthy lives.

Celebrating World Family Doctor Day
Caring for people.
World Family Doctor Day is held every year on the 19th May to respect and highlight the role and contribution of family doctors in primary healthcare in New Zealand and around the world.

Celebrating this day is an opportunity to appreciate all the incredible doctors, their professionalism, dedication and contribution to New Zealanders and the wider community’s wellbeing.

The Doctors medical centres are New Zealand’s leading and largest medical centre network with over 400 doctors in 66 practices, supporting over 430,000 enrolled patients.

We sincerely thank all the team of General Practitioners at the Doctors clinics; you are the integral backbone to our practices importantly you are at the heart of local community’s wellbeing.

ngahuru – big thanks to you all

Happy International Nurses Day!

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every 12th of May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth in recognition of nurses’ invaluable work.

We wish to thank all Nurses for their important contribution they make to the health of New Zealanders and the nurses that form part of the backbone of our medical service at The Doctors.

Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Kaimahi Hauora we appreciate you.
Kia Mihi for everything you do.

Happy National Receptionist Day!

Our customer service team are an essential part of The Doctors practices.

Without them, there is no way a busy medical practice could go about the day-to-day business smoothly.

They are the first people you see when you visit our clinics, they are patient, resilient and kind.

We recognise and thank you all for the hard work and dedication you bring to the team at The Doctors.

Kia Mihi for everything you do.

Happy National Safe Sleep Day! The aim of National Safe Sleep Day - Te Rā Mokopuna is to raise awareness about Sudden Unexpected Death in Infants (SUDI), with the vision of reducing the rate in which it occurs in our New Zealand families and communities. SUDI is preventable, and the risk factors for our babies can be significantly reduced should the right steps be implemented. Learn more here: https://sudinationalcoordination.co.nz/safe-sleep-day

Last week we hosted a Medical Centre Manager Forum, giving our centre managers the opportunity to connect, exchange knowledge, and collaborate with our internal teams and key suppliers. It was wonderful to have everyone together and we look forward to the next MCM Forum in the near future!

Today is . The theme for 2023 is Build Better Bones. There are a number of ways to boost your bone health including:

1. Exercise regularly - keep your bones and muscles moving.
2. Ensure your diet is rich in bone-healthy nutrients.
3. Maintain a healthy body weight, avoid smoking and excessive drinking.
4. Find out whether you have risk factors.
5. Get tested and treated if needed.

For more healthy habit tips, visit https://www.worldosteoporosisday.org/about-osteoporosis

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in New Zealand, where 9 women a day are diagnosed. Mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer early before it spreads. Eligible women aged between 45 and 69 can get a free mammogram every 2 years, as part of a programme run by BreastScreen Aotearoa: timetoscreen.nz/breast-screening/

Visit https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/bcam for more information on the many events taking place this month to support breast cancer patients.

Today is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for this year is 'Five Days, Five Ways', focusing on a set of proven tools to boost our mental health when we need it.

Take notice. Give. Be Active. Connect. Keep Learning.

Find out more here: https://mhaw.nz/

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to come together and raise awareness about the importance of early detection, education, and support for those affected by prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand have many events taking place throughout the month of September 💙 Find out more here: https://prostate.org.nz/

September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month. Cervical screening is a crucial step in detecting and preventing cervical cancer. If you're due for your cervical screening, make an appointment at your local The Doctors medical centre today. Early detection is the best protection 😊

World Hepatitis Day is a global initiative to raise awareness about hepatitis and its impact on millions of lives. Your liver silently performs over 500 vital functions every single day to keep you alive. That’s why prioritising liver health – and knowing your hepatitis status – is so important.

Speak to your local GP to find out how to protect yourself from hepatitis or visit https://www.hepatitisfoundation.org.nz/ for more information.

Matariki marks the start of the Māori New Year - where the Matariki cluster of stars briefly reappears in the early morning sky.

Matariki marks a time of reflection, connection, and renewal - a special occasion when we come together to acknowledge the past, celebrate the present, and set intentions for the future.

Wishing all our patients a happy Matariki 🙌

This week we're celebrating Men's Health Week!
For one week in June each year MHW reminds us of the small things we should be doing to take charge of our physical and mental well-being. Let's make MHW the starting point for positive changes in our lives. Take the What’s Your Score test to get a gauge on the health routines you already have: https://menshealthweek.co.nz/mens-health-survey/

Book a men's health checkup at your local The Doctors today ✅
'sHealthWeek

Join us in celebrating our amazing doctor teams on World Family Doctor Day today 😊 They are the heart of healthcare in all our medical centres, the first point of contact for people seeking medical care, the person that provides long-term care and a trusted relationships throughout their lives. They are often the central point of coordination for a patient’s healthcare needs, connecting them with other providers and services, advocating for their needs and helping them navigate the health system.

To all our doctors, every day you show dedication, compassion, and expertise as a trusted source of support for patients and families. Thank you for all you do. Happy World Family Doctor Day.

Kia mihi, for everything that you do

Join us in celebrating our amazing nursing teams on International Nurses Day today 😊
They play a vital role in providing care, comfort, and compassion to all our patients and their whānau.

Our nurses are the foundation and backbone of our medical centres caring for the whole person. They have always been at the forefront of change in health care, innovating in ways that benefit us all! Every day they show incredible patience, resilience, and kindness at the frontlines of care. We are so impressed and grateful for the work you do and how you support our clinics and communities.

To all our nursing teams today, happy International Nurses Day.

Kia mihi, for everything that you do

Join us in celebrating our customer service teams on International Receptionist Day today 😊 They are the face of our practices and brand and first point of contact with our patients. Every day they solve problems, trouble shoot, and connect our patients and teams with patience, resilience, and kindness.

We are so very grateful for your support. To all our customer service teams today, happy International Receptionist Day.

Kia mihi, for everything that you do

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can lead to serious complications. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your whānau and community from catching and spreading measles. You are considered immune to measles if you:

- Were born before 1 Jan 1969
- Have had measles before
- Have had two MMR vaccinations, and the last dose was over a month ago. Babies under 15 months are considered immune if they have had one MMR dose after 12 months of age, given at least a month ago
- Have had a blood test showing you are immune

If unsure or no documentation an MMR vaccine is recommended. Speak to your nearest The Doctors clinic about getting vaccinated. More information about measles can be found here:https://www.arphs.health.nz/assets/Uploads/Resources/Disease-and-illness/Measles-Mumps-Rubella/Measles/2022/Measles-general-information-factsheet.pdf

Today is World Asthma Day - a day to highlight this serious condition and its impact on Kiwis.
- 1 in 8 New Zealanders have asthma.
- 98 people die from asthma each year.
- 3,000 children are hospitalised each year due to asthma.
- 350,000 schools days are lost every year due to asthma.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ are hosting a free webinar tonight at 7pm for all parents and caregivers of children with asthma. Get your asthma related questions answered by their panel of speakers: Dr David McNamara; paediatric respiratory specialist, Sharon Pihema; mum of a child with severe asthma and 12-year old Liam Dulver who lives his best life while managing his asthma. Register for the webinar here: https://buff.ly/3p2nae9

Join us in celebrating our administrators and managers on International Admin Day today 😊

They are the backbone of our medical centres keeping it all together for our teams, practices, and patients. Their continued dedication and dependability ensure the smooth and efficient running of our medical centres.

As a key support role to just about everyone, their work is often done in the background. But we see what you do! You’re the amazing glue that keep us all together, and we are so very grateful for your support.

To all our admin teams and managers today, happy International Admin Day.
Kia mihi, for everything that you do.

Get your flu vaccine at our participating practices and receive a 15% discount code to apply at checkout to your purchase at lifepharmacy.co.nz 🙌

*Limited time only, visit our website for Ts&Cs: https://thedoctors.co.nz/Services/Flu-Vaccinations

Today we celebrate . The 2023 theme is: Sleep Is Essential for Health. Just like eating well and exercising, sleep is a behavior that is foundational to one’s physical, mental, and social well-being. For more information, visit https://worldsleepday.org/

Protect your pēpi from whooping cough. The whooping cough vaccination is free for people who are eligible from GPs and some pharmacies:

- All children and young people aged under 18 years
- Pregnant people
- All adults at 45 and 65 years of age as immunity reduces
- Some groups at higher risk of becoming very unwell if they catch whooping cough (e.g. chronic respiratory conditions, congenital heart disease or immunocompromised).

Babies and young children should get their vaccine doses on-time at six weeks, three months and five months. Booster doses are then available at 4 and 11 years old.

Chat to your local GP if you have any questions or visit https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/w/whooping-cough/ for more information.

Happy International Women's Day!
The theme for 2023 is - imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality.

For inspiring content on how IWD are helping to forge a gender equal world visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Te Whatu Ora has introduced new funding and eligibility criteria for Covid Care which means many patients will need to now pay for these services. Talk with reception or visit https://covid19.govt.nz/news-and-data/latest-news/changes-to-eligibility-for-free-covid-19-healthcare/ to find out if you are eligible for free Covid Care.

You can find out more about these changes on www.Unite.govt.nz. Let us know if you are concerned about these services or ability to pay. We are here to help and can discuss some options with you.

Protect our children - immunise for free at The Doctors 👍

Immunising children protects them from many serious diseases such as tetanus, polio, whooping cough and diphtheria. It also prevents your whānau and the community from getting sick too.

Our doctors or nurses can give these immunisations, ask at your local centre today.