Those who aren’t new arrivals in town will know that we have always worked to provide an affordable service with many free and discounted services. Contraceptive visits have been free for 25 years, long before the PHA free Sexual Health visits for under 25 year-olds that are now available at all PHA practices. Other PHA initiatives such as smoking cessation visits, Diabetes Annual Reviews and Heart Health Assessments and Palliative Care visits are available at Tarawera Medical Centre, like all other EBPHA practices. We have also provided free smears to all our patients for many years. Over 10 years ago we brought Very Low Cost Access to Kawerau which saw visits for all adults drop from $30+ to $16 and have only slowly increased to $17.50 (this is a government capped fee). In addition, all children under 18 and all ACC visits are free. The one service that we offer to our patients, that no other practice in the Eastern Bay can offer to their enrolled patients is free skin cancer surgery for eligible cancers up to Advance Plus level. Patients enrolled in other practices need to travel to Tarawera Medical Centre to access this level of skin cancer surgery.

All these free services are available from 8 to 6 every weekday, with walk in clinics every morning from 8 to 12 and again on Friday afternoon from 4:30. Booked appointments are available every day as well. We don’t shut down over lunch and you are always seen by fully qualified nurses and doctors as we don’t employ health care assistants with limited clinical training. Having recently celebrated 25 years in town with our third surgery update and extension we are enjoying the continued loyalty and support of our long established and many newly enrolled patients.

Under the school-based system all students at Tarawera High have had free access to services at Tarawera Medical Centre on referral from the nurse, Jo Knott, for years. As part of our 25 year celebrations we are extending this to all under 18 year olds. There is still an advantage to accessing the service via the school system as this can remove the barrier of prescription costs.

Other news this week is that TMC received 2 awards for the excellent work our nurses have done in immunisation. We achieved the highest rates of immunisation for 8 month olds and the greatest improvement in immunisation of 2 year olds. To achieve this despite the work that had to go into preparing for our Cornerstone assessment is a real credit to their dedication. Yesterday Dr. Aidan Williams, Jackie Morris and Sarah Morris attended the EBPHA Awards Evening and were presented with certificates in recognition of these achievements.

Immunisation is a crucial intervention to prevent illness and improve the health of individuals and communities. Over the past 25 years we have seen dramatic reductions of illnesses such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Haemophilus infections. Recent campaigns for HPV immunisation should have benefits that will continue for years with reduced risk of cervical cancer. This year a vaccine was added for Rotavirus which should see a reduction in cases of severe gastroenteritis. The recent outbreaks of measles internationally and in certain areas of New Zealand are a timely reminder of the importance of immunisation. Seeing a child suffering with a preventable illness that can have permanent consequences is very frustrating and upsetting.

For more information on the immunisation schedule see the Immunisation Advisory Centre website 

Margaret, Shannin and Jackie with the certificates recognising their great work.