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A matou ratonga

In 2023, there was a change to the way cervical cancer screening is done in Aotearoa NZ from the previous cervical smear test.

The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test is now the primary screening test for cervical cancer. The new test looks for the virus (HPV) which is known to cause more than 95% of cervical cancers. The virus is very common and is spread by intimate skin to skin contact or sexual activity.

Most adults will have HPV at some time in their lives. Infections usually clear by themselves, but some types of the virus which persist can go on to cause cell changes that turn into cancer.

Cervical cancer is preventable if you have regular screening.

The test is available to all women between the ages of 25 and 69 years who have ever been sexually active, even if you have been immunised against HPV. The HPV test is simple, easy, less uncomfortable, and very reliable.

There are 2 options for you to the new HPV testing –

• A vaginal swab which you can do yourself (self – test even at home) or have this done in the clinic by the nurse or
• You can have a cervix smear test done by a clinic nurse
  
  

Ask your nurse about your cervical screening options or the take-home test kit and instructions. In some cases, your screening test is free of charge.

Immigration Medicals – for New Zealand Immigration

Meridian Medical Centre is one of only 4 practices within the Dunedin area authorised by Immigration New Zealand to be able to offer the new electronic immigration medical examination.

The cost of an adult immigration medical is $320, and $200 for children 16 years and under (excluding the cost of laboratory tests and radiology scans and including a $150 deposit for the medical examination).

You need bring the following to your appointment

• • Your passport
  • Glasses (if you wear glasses)
  • Medication details
  • Previous medication details

Women requiring an immigration medical should attend when they are NOT having a period as this affects the urine lab test results.

You need to come to the medical centre to book your immigration medical examination and pay the non-refundable $150 deposit when booking in for the examination.

Please click here for more information.

Child Immunisations
Post Partum check for mum, and baby’s six week check are booked with the GP together. Immunisations are booked with the nurse to follow.  Book with a Practice Nurse directly for all other childhood immunisations.  

School Immunisation Program
If this is missed during the school program, we can administer the necessary vaccination/s. Or if parents prefer to bring a child into the practice for their immunisations, they can book with a nurse.

Vaccinations and Pregnancy
If you are planning to become pregnant it is highly recommended to check which vaccinations you may need before you become pregnant. Whooping Cough vaccination is strongly recommended for all expecting parents and other adults such as grandparents who will be in close contact with a new baby. Newborns are at risk of serious complications if they contract whooping cough.  Pregnant women can have a free whooping cough vaccine from sixteen weeks. This provides optimal protection for new babies. The Flu/Influenza vaccine can also be given. 

Adult Vaccinations
Please note not all adult vaccines are funded. Some incur a cost and are only free to particular age groups or medical conditions. Immunisation is still relevant in adulthood as ongoing protection is required for preventable diseases. Even if vaccinations were given in childhood, adults may need booster doses to maintain immunity. There are a range of adult vaccines available at our practice.

List of Vaccines

• Whooping Cough (also known as Pertussis)
• Influenza/Flu
• Measles -Mumps-Rubella
• Chickenpox (also known as Varicella)
• Pneumococcal Disease
• Tetanus
• Diptheria
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• We offer the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (now including HPV Virus) for all eligible children.
• Whooping Cough is funded for pregnant women from sixteen weeks and recommended (but not funded) for close family members i.e. partner, grandparents, and close family members.
• Tetanus boosters are recommended at 45 and 65 years of age or early in the case of dirty wounds.

Travel Vaccinations – Child and Adult
These need to be booked directly with your GP.

Travel related Diseases we can help you avoid:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Meningococcal disease
• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Tetanus, Diptheria + Polio
• Travellers Diarrhoea (Cholera)

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.

For any concerns regarding results – we will contact you. Please ensure your contact details are kept up to date with reception.

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 two weeks.
Because it cannot be stored for too long, you will often find that your GP will treat a number of patients one after the other.

For more information click here.

Liquid Nitrogen (Cryotherapy) is available on the first and third Monday of every month.  Please contact reception to book.

If you feel as though things are not quite right with your mental health, your GP is usually the first port of call. Our GPs are qualified to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental health issues. Some of the symptoms and triggers of a mental health issue can include:

• Life Crisis
• Family conflicts
• Suicidal thoughts
• Trauma
• Psychosis
• Relationship problems
• Constantly feeling ‘down’
• Constant worrying
• Constant feelings of anger

Mental Health has a significant impact on all aspects of life, including thoughts, feelings, behaviour, interactions, relationships, and decision-making. Mental health illnesses include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, schizophrenia, addictions, anorexia and bulimia.

What our GPs can do
The aim of seeing a professional to help with your mental health is to resolve psychological problems and improve your quality of life through various coping strategies.

Mental Health Assessment

• Refer you to the Te Whatu Ora-funded Brief Intervention Service – Health Improvement Practitioner and Health Coach for adults and youths
• Refer you to a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, other specialists or support group
• Prescribe medication
• Advise on positive lifestyle adjustments

We offer a range of services and are able to deal with most minor accident care. If we are not able to deal with an injury we will refer you to the appropriate service.

Minor surgery is commonly provided in primary care practices, providing fast, competent removal and biopsies of skin lesions. Other services include cosmetic work such as removal of benign moles and skin tags. Ingrown toenail surgery is also commonly provided. 

These conditions do not need to be referred to a hospital, perhaps saving you a long wait or a cancelled appointment when a more serious case takes priority. 

If your doctor is unable to provide the procedure you need, they may know a neighbouring GP who does. Otherwise, the PHO will have a list of GPs trained in particular operations.

Maintaining good health throughout a lifetime is one of the best ways to prevent disease from occurring in the body and enjoy quality of life as old age approaches. Our GP’s can help detect and treat disease early, to reduce the risk of a disease becoming serious, debilitating, or fatal.

Preventive health checks include:

General

• Annual check-ups for early detection of disease
• Non-funded smoking cessation advice
• Recommendations based on family medical history
• Skin Checks
• Fasting blood tests
• Stress heart tests
  
  

Women

• Breast checks
• Pap smears (Cervical Smears)
• Mammogram referrals

Men

• Prostate examination

Each GP surgery or primary care practice will have its own procedure for repeat prescribing but the following rules are common to most, if not all. Patients who are well-known to the practice who have a stable condition like asthma, hypertension or diabetes could be allowed to get a repeat prescription for up to six months. Repeat prescriptions are never given to patients who are not known to the practice and there is a blanket ban on repeats for narcotics and other drugs that could be misused as doctors are expected to monitor these drugs carefully.

Repeat prescriptions without seeing the GP are available for certain medications only for enrolled patients after discussion with one of our GPs. If you are on multiple medications, you will need to be reviewed every three months.  There is a charge and this can take up to 72 hours to be sent to your pharmacy.  However, please let us know if you need this more urgently.

LARC methods are very effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy and are “fit and forget” forms of contraception – you don’t need to remember them every day or every month. LARC methods:

• Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD or IUD) are inserted through the cervix into a woman’s uterus. IUCDs may be either hormonal (Mirena^® or Jaydess^® ) or non-hormonal (copper IUCD).
• Jadelle^® is a hormone-releasing implant that is inserted just under the skin of the upper arm.
  
  

Depending on the type of device, it will need to be changed between three and ten years.

Read more about LARC methods here

We fit both copper and Mirena coils.  Copper coils are fully-funded and Mirena coils, in some cases, are funded. Please make an appointment with a doctor to discuss this further.

We also fit and remove Jadelle implants. This is a relatively simple and safe procedure. 

Other gynaecological procedures include pipelle biopsies (taking tissue from the uterus walls) to ensure healthy tissue. This procedure is often undertaken for irregular vaginal bleeding in any age group.  The procedure is fully-funded.

Services and advice we offer include:

• Travel related vaccinations such as:
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese Encephalitis
  • Meningitis
  • Polio
  • Rabies
  • Tetanus
  • Flu
• Anti-malarial medication
• Health information for travel related issues eg food and water safety, altitude, insect bite avoidance
• Safety and security information

If you have had minor surgery, removal of sutures will be included in your minor surgery fee. There is a small charge for removal of sutures either with ACC or normal removal of sutures. 

All our GPs are equipped to assess and refer, or remove skin lesions.

All of our medical staff, Nurses and GP’s can provide prescriptions for Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

We have a Health Coach who can provide diet and lifestyle advice to you.