Ground floor, Ilam Health Building, 110 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch : Ph 03 351 6198 :
With the costs of running a General Practice continuing to rise, we have had to make the decision to increase our fees, effective 1st January 2025. We would like to reassure you that this decision was not made lightly and we are aware of the concern it may cause.
Our nurses provide an excellent service, yet the government funds general practice nurses at a significantly lower level than hospital nurses. Our staff could choose to go and work in the hospital or overseas for higher pay at any time. We require to bridge this financial gap to retain our staff until such time as the government changes to an equitable funding model that will protect the future of general practice nursing.
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.
We continue to ask the government to support General Practice in the same way they support hospitals in paying their staff and running costs.
You can definitely help by e-mailing or writing to your local MP and the Minister of Health to express your concern at the government’s decision to continue to under-fund General Practices in Aotearoa.
From the Partners at Ilam Medical Centre
Posted in Our Practice | Comments Off on Price Increase Jan 1, 2025
If your child has breathing difficulties, a persistently high fever above 38.5C, a rash, or is having difficulty managing food and fluids, then please call and get advice about whether they need to be seen.
Increasingly, we are being asked to provide certificates for children in order to attend preschool / school / extracurricular activities either during an illness, or after they have recovered. The Ministry of Health advice is clear that if your child is unwell with a viral illness, then they should not be attending preschool or school.
We do not have capacity to see well children to declare they are able to return to school. The decision about whether a child can attend preschool is between the parents and preschool/school, and should not need to involve the nurse or GP.
We appreciate your cooperation with this.
Posted in Support | Comments Off on Managing Viral Illness in Children
Appointments are now available for Flu Vaccinations from 4 April 2023. Bookings can be made over the phone now or, via the Indici patient portal after 4 April.
This year, as COVID-19 restrictions have eased and borders are open, 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.
The influenza vaccine is recommended and funded for people who meet the eligibility criteria, as set by PHARMAC. This includes
– All children (tamariki) aged 6 months – 12 years old
– Pregnant people
– People aged 65 years and older
– People aged from 13 years to under 65 years with eligible conditions
– Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 to 64 years
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
N/A (This is funded for all in this age group).
13-64 years
Afluria Quad
0.5mL
1 or 2*
$24
*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.
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
Appointments for Covid Booster will be available from mid April. More information to follow in a later post.
Posted in Support, Covid 19 | Comments Off on Flu / Covid Update 2023
Ilam Medical Centre have signed up with Practice Plus to offer an additional option for After Hours care.
Available from 5:00pm – 10:00pm on Weekdays, and from 8:00am – 8:00pm on Weekends & Public holidays. By using Practice Plus you can connect with trusted medical care quickly via your computer and a virtual consultation can be arranged. This service may well meet your needs where a registered clinician can determine the appropriate care for you virtually. If a face to face examination is necessary, they will recommend going to your current After Hours service or Emergency Department .
Through video or phone technology, a Practice Plus Clinician can privately and securely help treat most medical needs, sicknesses or injuries. From a common cold, contraceptive options, migraines and more, Practice Plus can provide treatment and prescriptions direct to your pharmacy along with health counselling and off-work certificates, as well as many more conditions.
If you need to be seen in-person your Practice Plus Clinician will provide advice on the next steps in your care plan and the services available including connecting you back with Ilam Medical Centre, the Afterhours Clinic or Emergency Department.
The notes of your appointment will be sent back to your GP at Ilam Medical Centre for continuity of care, unless you request these not to be shared.
You will need a smart phone, or camera equipped computer and credit card facilities, and you can login using your existing myindici® details.
Click on the graphic below to access the site
Posted in Support | Comments Off on Virtual After Hours option
Unfortunately we are unable to take any new patients currently. Our numbers have increased over 2022, to a such a level that we must ensure that we provide the level of care our current patients expect!
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on New Enrolments Closed
Patients who are registered on the portal are able to: Book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view results online.
Login Here
You will need your email, date of birth and NHI number to complete this process for the first time.
Please note that you will need to visit the practice in person to complete the registration process as we are required to sight your ID to give full access. The requirement to sight ID is for the protection of your privacy. ID must be sighted in person, not via an email. Please phone us on 351 6198 if you are having any issues with this process.
Posted in Support | Comments Off on Patient Portal
It is exciting to see the new building well and truly take shape right next to the carpark. After having outgrown our existing premises we love seeing the spaces develop that will enable us to offer a greater level of care and comfort for you, our patients.
The prospect of combining a range of services here in one building is also something we look forward to, when we become a part of “Ilam Health”. We’ll still be Ilam Medical Centre, but with Dental, Physio, Podiatry and Psychologist services along with the pharmacy under the same roof, it will be a great asset for our patients and local community!
More to come but for now, some progress pics from the ground up… and up!
Posted in New Building | Comments Off on Building Progress
Appointments for face to face or telephone consultations with your Doctor can be made via our patient portal – ManageMyHealth.
Any type of appointment can be booked by calling reception. 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.
ANY PATIENT WITH RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO WAIT IN THE BUILDING IF THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSESSED BY ONE OF OUR CLINICAL STAFF AN ALLOWED TO ENTER.
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
Posted in Covid 19 | Comments Off on Welcome to Level 2
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:
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.
Posted in Covid 19 | Comments Off on Level 3 lockdown
