Alexandra Family Medical

07/10/2025

💉 Are You Up to Date With Your Measles Vaccination?

With new measles cases recently confirmed in New Zealand — including in Queenstown — now is a good time to check whether you’re fully protected.

✅ If you were born before 1969, you’re considered immune (measles was widespread then).
💉 If you were born in 1969 or later, you should have had two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine recorded.

If you’re unsure or your records can’t be found, there’s no harm in getting an extra (third) dose — it’s safe and provides extra protection.

Measles is highly contagious and can spread quickly through our community, so ensuring full immunity is the best way to protect yourself, your whānau, and those around you.

If you’re not sure of your vaccination status, check with your GP or practice nurse — we can help you review your record and arrange a catch-up dose if needed.

Call now to connect with business.

06/10/2025

🌿 New Weight-Loss Medication Now Available: Wegovy

We’re receiving many questions about Wegovy, a new prescription-only weight-loss medication now available in New Zealand.

What is Wegovy?
Wegovy works by mimicking a natural hormone (GLP-1) that helps regulate appetite. It helps you feel full sooner, reduces hunger and food cravings, and can support gradual, sustained weight loss.

However, Wegovy is not a quick fix.
It’s most effective when combined with a low-calorie, balanced diet, regular physical activity, and long-term lifestyle changes.
The best results come from a comprehensive plan — the medication supports your efforts, but doesn’t replace healthy habits.

Important notes:

Wegovy is available only on prescription.

It is not currently funded in New Zealand (self-funded cost).

It’s intended for long-term use in adults with:
• A BMI ≥ 30 (obesity), or
• A BMI ≥ 27 with weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or sleep apnoea.

If you’d like to learn whether Wegovy could be suitable for you, book an appointment with your GP to discuss your health goals and the best approach for safe, lasting weight management.

Call now to connect with business.

06/10/2025

Having trouble reaching us by phone? Here’s what might be happening 📱

We’ve heard from a few patients that they’ve had trouble calling our practice recently. Our phone system is working normally — but some mobile providers are currently phasing out their old 3G networks across New Zealand (including One NZ and others).

If your phone is an older model, or if it still relies on 3G for calls, you might have issues connecting to certain numbers — even when you still see “signal bars.” This is part of a nationwide 3G shutdown, with most networks moving fully to 4G and 5G.

✅ What you can do:
• Check that your phone settings are set to “4G/LTE” or “5G.”
• to check your phone - visit www.tcf.org.nz/3g.

05/10/2025

🩺 Bowel Screening Age Lowered – Starts This Week in Southern!

From this week, the National Bowel Screening Programme is expanding in our region.
The starting age is being lowered from 60 to 58 years — and the Southern region is first in New Zealand to make this change.

This means that if you’re turning 58, 59, or already in that age group, you’ll automatically receive a free bowel screening kit in the mail around your next birthday. You don’t need to do anything to enrol.

🧬 Why this matters:
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Aotearoa, but when found early, it’s very treatable.
Lowering the screening age will help detect more cancers earlier and save lives.

💡 What to expect:
• Eligible patients will be sent a screening kit by mail.
• Participation is free and simple to do at home.
• Your results are sent directly to you and your GP.

For more information, visit www.timetoscreen.nz/bowelscreening

02/10/2025

☀️ Free Skin Spot Check Thursday 30 October ☀️

This Melanoma Awareness Month, Alexandra Family Medical is offering a FREE skin spot check with skin cancer doctors Dr Joost Breuk and Dr Elvira de Jong. This is for anyone wanting a skin spot checked, not only our enrolled patients.

New Zealand has one of the highest melanoma rates in the world — but early detection can save lives. 💛

👉 Book your free appointment now, 03/9016277
👉 Find resources and support at melanoma.org.nz

Family focused healthcare in a comfortable and private environment in Alexandra - See your own GP each visit- Now enrolling new patients

23/09/2025

Just in case anyone needs reassurance.

The Trump administration has made highly controversial claims about the causes of autism and ADHD, asserting that paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) use during pregnancy increases the risk of children being diagnosed as neurodivergent.

RANZCOG joins leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting these claims. Scientific evidence shows no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD during childhood, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting the administration’s statement.

The causes of neurodivergence are incompletely understood and remain complex, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Earlier studies raising concerns about paracetamol could not determine whether the medicine itself was responsible, or whether other factors explained the association.

A much larger and stronger study, published in 2024 by Ahlqvist and colleagues, looked at 2.5 million children in Sweden. When they accounted for important factors like family history of autism/ADHD and sibling comparisons, they found no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and children developing autism or ADHD.

The use of medications during pregnancy should always balance the potential benefits against any potential harms - both of the medication and of the condition being treated - to the mother and the fetus. The Ahlqvist study provides conclusive evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy does not increase the chance of neurodivergence in the offspring and therefore should be considered safe to use in pregnancy where there is a clear reason to do so.

People who are uncertain about medication use in pregnancy should discuss this with their doctor or midwife.

Learn more in a statement on the College’s website: https://ranzcog.edu.au/news/paracetamol-use-in-pregnancy/

17/09/2025

01/09/2025

📱 A Psychologist’s Warning: Are Smartphones Rewiring Childhood?

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt believes we’ve dramatically changed childhood—and not for the better.

In his book The Anxious Generation, Haidt argues that:

We’ve shifted from play-based childhood to phone-based childhood, and this change is driving an epidemic of anxiety and depression in young people.

Giving kids smartphones too early—often to keep them safe or entertained—may actually harm their emotional and social development.

At the same time, parents have become more risk-averse, reducing kids’ chances for independence, free play, and resilience-building experiences.

Haidt’s advice?
✅ Delay smartphones and social media as long as possible.
✅ Bring back free play and real-world connection.
✅ Create community-wide efforts to restore balance to childhood.

📚 If you’re curious, check out Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation or his talk on YouTube.

What do you think—should kids get phones later? Let us know in the comments! 👇

01/09/2025

🌸 Let’s Talk About (Peri)Menopause 🌸

Many women experience changes during perimenopause and menopause that go far beyond hot flushes and night sweats.

✅ Fatigue, brain fog and mood issues are among the most common symptoms.
✅ Loss of interest in s*x is often the most severely experienced symptom.
✅ Women worldwide report a very similar range of symptoms.

New research shows that hormone changes during this stage of life affect every cell in the body. That’s why so many parts of your health can feel as if they are “going wrong” all at once. Symptoms may include tiredness, memory problems, anxiety, mood swings, joint pain, heart palpitations, dry skin, and much more.

The good news is: you don’t have to put up with it.
There are safe and effective treatments available. NICE guidelines recommend HRT as the first-line treatment for perimenopause and menopause symptoms, but treatment is always tailored to your individual needs.

👩‍⚕️ At Alexandra Family Medical, you can book an appointment with your GP to discuss your concerns. We’re here to listen, support you, and work with you on the best options for your health and wellbeing.

💬 If you recognise yourself in these symptoms, or just want to better understand your options, we encourage you to reach out. You don’t have to go through this alone.

Source: drlouisenewson.co.uk

28/08/2025

👩‍⚕️ Looking for a GP who knows you?

At Alexandra Family Medical, you don’t just see whichever doctor is available – you get to see your own GP. That means better continuity of care, someone who understands your history, and care you can trust.

✅ Same-day appointments available
✅ Walk-in appointments for more urgent care (injuries & acute illness)
✅ Skin cancer checks and removals – most at no cost to the patient

Your health, your doctor, your community.
Enrolling is simple – don’t wait to get the care you deserve. Complete your enrolment form online on

This consists of an experienced & specialist team of General Practitioners, & Registered Nurses. Supported by an excellent Admin team including Reception, Admin & Accounts, who work from the Central Lodge historical building, by the bridge in Alexandra, providing professional healthcare to you and y...

26/08/2025

Breast Screening Age Extension – Starting October 2025

Great news! From October 2025, the free breast screening program (BreastScreen Aotearoa) will begin extending the age range for mammograms.

✅ Currently: Women aged 45–69 can have a free mammogram every 2 years.
✅ From October 2025:

Women who turn 70 on or after 1 October 2025 will continue to get free mammograms every 2 years (from their last screen) until age 75.

Women who are 70–74 before 1 October 2025 can get one final free mammogram at age 74, if booked before turning 75.

This is the first step in extending the screening age to include all women up to 74 by 2029.

A new system called Te Puna will automatically identify eligible women and send them an invitation.

➡️ If you’re aged 70–74 and not currently enrolled, you’ll get a secure invitation.
➡️ If you’re already enrolled and due for your next screen, you’ll also get an invite.

Why this matters:
Breast screening saves lives. Early detection means more treatment options and better outcomes.

25/08/2025

Cervical screening just got easier: self-swab HPV testing every 5 years for those aged 25–69 with a cervix.

No speculum, no fuss, just a quick, simple test.

If you are not sure when you are due, now is the perfect time to check. Take a few minutes this Women’s Health Week to protect your future self.

Find out more here: https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/c/cervical-screening