Adult and Child Medical Care
Your GP's surgery is far more than a place to go when you are feeling unwell and needing a quick cure. The doctor who sees you has gone through extensive medical training to equip her or him to help children and adults of all ages with a range of physical and emotional difficulties. GPs are at the centre of the healthcare hub and will be aware of services and expertise that are available locally and further-a-field. GPs are also aware of the link that stress and unhappy life events have on physical health so know when to suggest a talking therapy rather than medication.
Minor Accident Care
Primary care practices offer a range of services and are able to deal with most minor accident care. If they are not able to deal with an injury they will refer to the appropriate service. Please note: we are an appointment only medical centre and cannot guarantee appointments for walk ins
Minor Surgery
Minor Skin Surgery is offered here at HealthZone Medical. All our GPs, and Amanda our nurse are competent and comfortable with punch biopsies and removals/excisions of concerning lesions, or simple removal of skin tags and benign moles for cosmetic purposes. Dr Sam Mayhew is our Skin Cancer Doctor who not only can perform your minor skin surgery but review all aspects of your skin cancer care. Our nurse Amanda is also trained in Dermoscopy and Skin Cancer biopsies and excisions. Other procedures such as dermapen micro-needling is offered at the discretion of Dr Sam Mayhew
Sports Medicine
Our practice is proud to have a strong connection in Sports Medicine, with Dr Simon, John and Sam Mayhew all practicing in Sports Medicine, and having for had connections with teams such as the All Blacks, NZ Kiwis, NZ Warriors, NZ Black Fins, HPSNZ, Yachting NZ Olympic Team, Tall Blacks, NZ Breakers. If you have a sports injury or sports medicine concern, any of the Dr Mayhew’s would be happy to see you. Please make sure you request a sports medicine consult to be given the appropriate time.
Skin Cancer Medicine
Dr Sam Mayhew and Nurse Amanda are our team heading our Skin Cancer Care. Dr Sam regularly practices within his general practice skin cancer medicine and surgery, is a Fellow of the Skin Cancer Institute, an inaugural member of the NZ Skin Cancer Doctors Society. For all you skin cancer needs, book in with Dr Sam.
Repeat Prescriptions
Currently the best way to request a repeat prescription is by going to our nurseline or leaving an email. Please allow 48hours for turnover, if urgent, for same day, please identify this in your message or email. We are currently looking into incorporating manage my health software to enable our patients to request their scripts online. Watch this space.
Lab Results
Sometimes your doctor needs to take a sample of blood or urine either to discover what is wrong with you or to measure something in your blood so that the right medication is given to you. These tests could be anything from blood sugar to a full blood count or a sample of tissue to test for cancer. While urine can generally be tested in the surgery, blood and other specimens are usually sent away for testing at a laboratory. Most results come back within 48 hours unless a very rare test is needed which has to go to a specialist lab further away when it might take a little longer.
Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is a fast, effective treatment provided in many practices to treat viral warts, sun damaged skin, skin tags and many benign cosmetic lesions. It comes in a container with a nozzle and is usually applied by swab or spray. Often one treatment is all that is needed but sometimes it may need repeating after 3-4 weeks. The doctor or nurse will explain the risks and benefits of this procedure before you have this done and what to expect. The cost is $15 first lesion, $10 additional lesions up to a maximum capped cost of $45 For more information [click here].
IUCD Insertion
An Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) is inserted into a woman’s uterus to prevent pregnancy. Depending on the type of device, it will need to be changed after between three and five years. One particular brand of IUCD is often used to reduce heavy bleeding during periods.
Immunisations
Immunisations are provided at all primary care practices and are one of the most important services they provide. Immunisation has led to the decline of many lethal diseases including meningococcal B meningitis. The National Immunisation Schedule offers a series of vaccines free to babies, children, adolescents and adults. Visit the Ministry of Health website http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/new-zealand-immunisation-schedule to find out what vaccines are on the Schedule and when they are given. Additional vaccines are provided free for certain eligible groups considered to be at high risk because of other medical conditions; find out more here http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/new-zealand-immunisation-schedule. These and other vaccines such as travel vaccines can be purchased by other people if they want them. Immunisations are given by a practice nurse or doctor, having ensured beforehand that the person is not ill or suffering from allergies. Risks associated with immunisation are very rare. Children have their own document to keep a record of these injections. Under the age of 5 this is usually their Well Child/Tamariki Ora My Health Book. The immunisation record may need to be shown, for example, when starting school or early childcare. The staff will also record the immunisation details on New Zealand’s National Immunisation Register. This computerised information system holds details of all immunisations given to children here and will alert families when immunisations are due.
Cervical Smears
All women who have ever been sexually active should have regular cervical smear tests every three years between the ages of 20 and 70. This includes women who have been immunised against HPV. This test detects abnormal cells which, if left untreated, could become cervical cancer. Very often these cells are made abnormal by a human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted virus. Regular tests and treatment reduces the likelihood of this sort of cancer by around 90%. For more information about cervical smear tests click on the link to the National Screening Unit website http://www.nsu.govt.nz/current-nsu-programmes/national-cervical-screening-programme.aspx
ECG
An ECG is a recording of your heart’s electrical activity. Electrode patches are attached to your skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by your heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm.
Travel Advice / Immunisations
Another service offered to you at your GP surgery (primary care practice) is advice and immunisation before you go to another country. While you are likely to have the immunisations needed to live in New Zealand, there may be other injections you need to protect yourself before going for example to Africa or South America. In some places you will need protection from rabies or malaria. Yellow fever vaccinations are only available at approved centres; please click here to view the centres in the Auckland region. Your doctor will be able to tell you what diseases you will need to be protected from in any named country and advise you on other medical matters.