Ground floor, Ilam Health Building, 110 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch : Ph 03 351 6198 :
July 2022
We are very sorry that we have had to increase our patient fees and can understand the frustration this may cause our patients.
This increase is as a direct result of the government imposing a significant real-terms cut in funding from our services with effect 1 July 2022.
As at 31 March 2022, national inflation rises were running at 6.9%. Additionally, general practice has experienced a range of further cost pressures which has meant our total costs have risen by over 10% compared to this time last year.
The government has imposed a funding increase of just 3%. Our national representative body has been having further discussions with government officials but, to date, they are being ignored. General practice has no right or contractual means to negotiate our funding, despite what you might have heard the Minister of Health stating in the media
We want to treat our staff fairly. Our nurses and GPs have continued providing core services as well as providing our essential COVID response over the past two years. Yet the government funds our staff at a much lower level than equivalent doctors and nurses doing the same level of work in government-run hospital settings.
We think that is unfair. We also think it is important that we can retain essential staff to be able to continue providing essential services for you. We are well aware that our staff could choose to go and work overseas for a much higher salary – and they could do so tomorrow.
Most importantly, you should not avoid seeking medical help when needed. If you have any problems paying or the fees put you off from seeing a doctor when you need one – please talk to us about it. For medical emergencies, you always have the right to attend and be seen at the Emergency Department at our local hospital – and there is no charge for this service.
Firstly, thank you for asking and for allowing us to explain this no-win situation we have found ourselves in. We hope we can reverse the government’s decision and reduce our fees again.
You can definitely help. This can be done very simply by e-mailing or writing to our local MP, Sarah Pellett and the Minister of Health to express your concern at the government’s decision to reduce funding for essential family doctor services.
From the Partners at Ilam Medical Centre
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Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
At least 12 groups/strains of this have been identified, including A, B, C, X, Y, and W.
In New Zealand over 2014–2017, meningococcal group B caused around two-thirds of meningococcal disease each year, group C almost one-third and groups Y or W the remaining few cases. In 2022, group B was the prominent type in NZ causing 80% of group-identified cases.
Bexsero, a multicomponent recombinant vaccine against meningococcal B disease is available in New Zealand and is now part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule (in addition to all other vaccines already on the schedule).
As part of this schedule change, the government is funding a catch-up schedule. See tables below for information on the schedule, catch up programme, and key definitions:
Administered as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme at three months, five months, and a booster dose at 12 months.
Two doses funded, eight weeks apart
Up to three doses funded, depending on the age of the child when they have the first dose.
Additional Information
Other meningococcal vaccines that protect against groups A, C, W and Y are also available in New Zealand, but are not funded within the childhood immunisation schedule. For best protection against all meningococcal disease in New Zealand, separate vaccinations against group B disease and groups A, C, Y and W disease are recommended. Please have a read of the websites below and/or ask your GP or nurse for information if you wish to learn more about this.
Websites for Further Reading
Bexsero – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)
https://www.immune.org.nz/diseases/meningococcal-disease
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Orange settings
We encourage telephone consultations where possible but for those patients needing to be seen in the clinic they will be asked health questions related to Covid symptoms before an appointment can be made. It is very important that these questions are answered honestly.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients can be seen in the clinic but only after being triaged and a mask will be required. Any patients with a mask exemption will need to be seen outside in our Covid cabin – please let the reception team know when you make the booking.,
If you have been in contact with a Covid 19 case within the last 14 please DO NOT come into our building. Speak to reception about booking a telephone consultation.
Thank you for your co operation with these processes.
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Appointments are now available for Flu Vaccinations. Bookings can be made over the phone.
Why is the influenza vaccination important this year?
This year, as COVID-19 restrictions ease and borders reopen, it can be expected that a resurgence of respiratory viruses will follow, including influenza. During COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza vaccination is important, as the co-circulation of both diseases leads to an increased risk of serious illness if both viruses are caught whilst unvaccinated.
Eligibility:
The influenza vaccine is recommended and funded for people who meet the eligibility criteria, as set by PHARMAC. This includes
– Pregnant people
– People aged 65 years and older
– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with eligible conditions
– Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 to 64 years
– Tamariki aged 4 years or under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness (including measles) or have a history of significant respiratory illness.
For a full list of eligible conditions, please refer to www.influenza.org.nz, or view the PHARMAC website: https://schedule.pharmac.govt.nz/ScheduleOnline.php
The Vaccines Available This Year:
*Tamariki aged 6 months to under 9 years who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time should receive two doses, at least 4 weeks apart.
**Fluad Quad is available for purchase for those aged ≥ 65 years. As we age, our immune system becomes less effective. This vaccine is designed to promote a stronger immune response, and so is potentially more effective for people in this age group. Unfortunately we have already used our initial stock and we are unable to order any more of these vaccines.
For 2022, the influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines are:
• A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
• A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus (new)
• B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus (new)
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
COVID-19 and the Influenza Vaccination
It is safe to have the Influenza vaccination at the same time as all COVID-19 vaccinations, except Novavax. Please refer to the listed websites for information, or call to discuss any concerns or queries with a nurse before booking your appointment.
If you have had COVID-19, and are no longer isolating, there is no stand-down period required before having your influenza vaccination.
For more information, please refer to the following website: https://www.influenza.org.nz/sites/default/files/IMAC_Flu_Kit_2022_29-03-2022.pdf
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We are offering Rapid Antigen Tests [RATs] according to Ministry of Health [MoH] guidelines. Currently, testing is required for:
– Asymptomatic household contacts on day 3 and 7 of isolation
– Anyone with Covid-19-like symptoms, regardless of whether they are a household contact or not.
Please call reception to book in for a test if you meet this criteria.
We do also have some P.C.R. Covid-19 tests available, but again there are strict guidelines from the MoH about this and most people will only need a R.A.T.
Our staff can advise if a P.C.R. is indicated for you.
If you have completed a R.A.T. at home and it has shown a positive result, please remember to register this on your ‘My Covid Record’ page. This will then notify public health, and also notifies your GP (although it can take a few days for your GP to receive this information).
If you are Covid-19 positive, you and everyone in your household must isolate.
If you are concerned about your general health, breathing, or have any chest pain, call IMC on 03 3516198 or Healthline on 0800-358-5453. If you need urgent medical help, call 111 and tell them you have COVID-19.
For information, support, and advice around being a COVID-19 case, visit https://covid19.health.nz/advice/positive.
Our nurses are happy to advise if you are uncertain about testing criteria, or have any questions that can’t be answered by looking at the MoH website: https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public.
We are also offering travel Covid-19 swabs, both R.A.T. and P.C.R., for enrolled patients.
Please call reception to book in for your pre-departure test.
Note: We are unable to advise the swab type or date required for travel. Please check the requirements of your destination country before booking in. P.C.R. test results take 24-48hours to return from the lab.
Posted in Covid 19 | Comments Off on R.A.T.s & P.C.R. testing for Covid19
Following today’s announcement by the Ministry of Health, we expect to be offering R.A.T. testing to patients by mid next week (3rd March 22). As at today’s date, we have not received supplies from M.O.H. for this testing. Until we have received these supplies we will continue to booking appointments for Nasal Pharyngeal (PCR) tests. Tests will only be available for patients who are Household contacts of a known positive case OR anyone who is Symptomatic. Please call reception to book an appointment.
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We are now offering Covid Vaccination appointments to Ilam Medical Centre patients. We are only authorised to administer the pfizer vaccine. We cannot offer Astra Zeneca Covid vaccines at this practice.
Please call reception to book an appointment.
Anyone aged 12 years or over can be booked in for their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or booster vaccination. Please note the 3rd vaccination is only required for immunocompromised patients and will require a consult with your doctor first.
*Please note we will not begin vaccinating the 5-11 year aged population until mid- late March
For information about the vaccine please click on the link below
https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/
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Red settings
Patients will need to be a minimum of 1.5 meters apart while sitting in our waiting room. If we have too many patients waiting, you will be asked to wait outside.
Vaccine passes are not required for patients to enter our building as we are an essential service.
Contractors or visitors (non patients) will be required to show a vaccine pass.
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Appointments for telephone, in person or Covid 19 testa can be made by calling the reception team. If you want a face to face appointment, you will be asked the following health questions before an appointment is made. Do you have any of the following:
If you have any symptoms you will be put on our Nurse telephone triage list for the day. You will be phoned back and your medical needs assessed. You may be booked for a Covid swab by our staff at our Clinic B (separate building next door). It may be appropriate for you to have a telephone consult or a carpark consult if you have any respiratory symptoms.
Telephone consultations can be very useful and a good option for issues not requiring physical examination. Recent legislative changes mean we are now able to provide ACC consultations and renew sickness benefits via telephone consultation. Please make sure we have your correct telephone number. Standard consultation charges apply.
Carpark consults may be required where you need to be seen but also have respiratory symptoms meaning that you also require a Covid swab. The triage nurse will discuss the process with you at the time of booking. Please call reception upon arrival 3516 198
As per the Ministry of Health’s current case definition we are providing COVID-19 test swabbing for all our enrolled patients (appointment only) that are experiencing any of the above symptoms. If you fall into this group, we strongly encourage you to contact us and arrange an appointment through our triage nurse to get a swab as this is the best way to pick up a recurrence of COVID in the community.
If you are booked for a Covid swab you will need to use the entrance to “Clinic B’ to the right of our main driveway. Please call reception upon arrival 3516 198 and Do NOT get out of your car.
The nurse will come to your vehicle to do the swab. If you are on foot, please observe social distancing and wait in the carpark.
Swab Results The results of your COVID-19 swab are usually available 24-48 hours after the swab is taken. If the result is positive, you will be contacted by Community & Public Health and they will begin contact tracing to try to establish a connection with an existing known infected person. If the result is negative, you will be contacted by one of our staff.
Please scan our NZ COVID Tracer QR code when you enter the building, especially if you are accompanying a patient, as you will not be recorded in our appointment books for the day.
We will continue to have an emphasis within the practice on infection control by strict handwashing routines for staff and the use of personal protection equipment by staff where necessary. We ask that all patients use hand sanitiser on arrival and departure from the medical centre. We will also provide a mask for patients with respiratory symptoms. THESE PATIENTS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO WAIT IN THE BUILDING IF THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSESSED.
Covid 19 has brought many challenges to us all. Some people are more affected than others. Social isolation and financial as well as health concerns impact our physical and emotional health. If you need to discuss this with your GP, book an appointment. You can also access 24 hour telephone support by using the “Need to talk” service by texting 1737
The best place to get the most up to date information is the NZ Government website: www.covid19.govt.nz
You can also visit the Healthinfo website:
Or you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116
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