Medical student, Logan Callesen, learns skin surgery skills with Dr. Tony Whitehead.

A reminder that the Influenza vaccines are now available. As always they are free to those 65 and over and many others who have chronic health conditions. Drop in to see our friendly nurses to get your vaccination done in preparation for winter.

Tarawera Medical Centre has a long history of being a popular attachment for medical and nursing students who enjoy the friendly team environment with the opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences. 4th year Auckland Medical School student, Logan Callesen, has just completed a 2 week run with us and was very appreciative of the usual welcome and generosity of our patients and staff. He experienced the full range of GP consultations, Rest Home rounds, learned hands-on practical skin biopsy and suturing skills as well as seeing some advanced skin cancer surgery procedures, had exposure to occupational medicine as well as visiting a pharmacy and physio practice. Logan has a wide range of interests including mountain biking and music, and judging from the brownies he made for morning tea, is pretty useful in the kitchen too. His YouTube channel shows some of his musical skills.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes to all our patients for a safe and happy New Year. Just a reminder that we are closed only for the stat holidays and will reopen on Tuesday 5th January.

Our regular patients will know by now that Dr. Louisa Barter is back from maternity leave and that Dr. Rachel Shouler, who provided cover during Louisa’s leave, has decided to stay on at the Tarawera Medical Centre. Rachel had been doing various locum jobs and has really enjoyed being part of our stable, supportive and collaborative team and she brings skills and experience that complement the other doctors well. She has proven very popular and already has a loyal following of appreciative patients. Like Louisa she is very experienced and it is nice to offer our patients the option of an experienced, well qualified lady doctor every day of the week. When you make a doctor’s appointment you can be assured that you will always be seen by a doctor and not expected to discuss your personal issues with a health care assistant with limited training. Our fully qualified nurses are also available for nurse appointments and will refer you on to a doctor if that is what is needed to properly manage your health issues.

Another reminder to stay sun smart in the summer. We have had a real spate of melanomas referred in from around the EBOP in the past few weeks and prevention is better than cure. If you notice any new or changing moles please get them checked as even melanoma if picked up early can be managed safely but if left too long can be devastating.

Wishing all our patients a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Tarawera Medical Centre will be open normal hours apart from the statutory holidays over the next 2 weeks. Check your medications to make sure that you have enough to cover for the holidays especially if travelling away. Email script requests can be made and we will fax your script to your pharmacy without punitive fax surcharges. As always when you make a doctor appointment you are always seen by a doctor. Happy holidays, travel safe if on the roads and remember to “slip, slop, slap and wrap” when enjoying the outdoors.

Shareen and Gina.

Tarawera Medical Centre has a long history of supporting Medical and Nursing students and junior doctors who join us for clinical attachments as part of their studies. We are currently hosting Gina Donk, a 4th year medical student studying at Auckland University, and Shareen Hanif, a 3rd year nursing student from Wintec. Both are enjoying the patient contact and friendly team environment we have with broad exposure to a wide range of General Practice issues as well as the opportunity to see some advanced minor surgical procedures. We would like to thank our patients, who, as always, are also just as welcoming as our staff and happy to have the students sit in on their consultations and procedures.

Reminder about Influenza vaccines. The free vaccines have been extended to the end of August so time is running short if you want to get your free immunisation. Influenza cases have been increasing and it not too late to get some protection.