Stonefields Medical Centre

08/10/2025

How does our Acute "Cabin" On-the-Day Clinic operate:
🩺 NEED TO BE SEEN ON THE DAY?
📅 Appointments open daily after 8:30am and can only be booked on the day.
📞 Call the practice to book — same-day only
We offer 8–10 appointments each day for patients who need to be seen urgently with short-term or contagious illnesses.
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For symptoms such as:
• Coughs, colds, sore throats
• Ear, nose, or throat infections
• Eye infections
• Fevers, stomach upsets, or vomiting
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Why use the Acute Cabin?
✅ Same-day access for acute illness
✅ Reduces the need for A&M or online providers
✅ Keeps infectious patients separate
✅ Safe and efficient service from your regular team
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⚠️ Please note:
Demand for these appointments is high, and we may not always be able to accommodate everyone — but we do our very best each day to help as many patients as possible.
💙 Thank you for helping us keep our community well.

02/10/2025

Screening Age Lowered to 58 from 6/10/25 as part of the National Bowel Screening Programme:
The age at which people can start taking part in the free National Bowel Screening Programme is being lowered from 60 to 58 years of age. Currently, people can have free bowel screening from the age of 60 to 74. Lowering the age to 58 means that at least 122,000 more people will be eligible for screening over the first year. Lowering the age to 58 will take place in two stages. The first stage will start from 6 October 2025 in the Northern region and Te Waipounamu (South Island), and the second stage will begin in March 2026 in the remaining North Island regions of Midland and Central. People turning 58 or 59, or who are already 58 or 59, don’t need to do anything. They will be mailed their bowel screening kit around their next birthday or be contacted by a local health provider, once age extension is introduced in their area. People who are 59 will receive a kit around their 60th birthday as part of the existing programme, whether or not the lower age range is available in their area yet. Bowel screening aims to save lives by helping find bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated. There may be no warning signs that someone has bowel cancer. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world – bowel cancer is our second highest cause of cancer death.

23/09/2025

🌿 Mental Health Awareness Week | October 6–12

Let’s celebrate our wellbeing together at Stonefields!
Research shows there are five simple things you can do daily — at work and at home — to build resilience, boost your wellbeing, and lower your risk of developing mental health problems. These are known internationally as the Five Ways to Wellbeing:
🌟 The Five Ways to Wellbeing:
• Connect 🤝 Strengthen relationships and feel close to others — at work and beyond.
• Be Active 🏃‍♀️ Movement improves mood, reduces stress, and supports mental health.
• Keep Learning 📚 Stay curious and seek new experiences to stimulate your brain.
• Give 🎁 Acts of kindness — big or small — increase happiness and life satisfaction.
• Take Notice 🌅 Tune into the present moment and appreciate the world around you.
💡 The Five Ways in Action:
• Connect with family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
• Keep Learning — try something new or take on a fresh challenge.
• Be Active — walk, garden, play, or simply step outside.
• Give — thank someone, help a teammate, or volunteer.
• Take Notice — savour the moment, notice the seasons, reflect on the unusual.
💚 Wellness Support Available
You can book a free Wellness Check with our Health Improvement Practitioner Michelle and our Health Coach Laura. Let’s support each other and make wellbeing a shared priority. Call our Reception Team to book your appointment with Michelle or Laura: 09 320 0168

09/09/2025

🌿 Join Stonefields Medical Centre Walking Group, led by our fantastic Health Coach, Laura! 🌿
Want to get moving, meet new people, and enjoy some fresh air? Come along and join our friendly walking group!
📍 Meet at: 11.00 am Outside the Clinic Foyer in front of the elevator
🕒 When: Every Monday FROM Monday 22nd September 11.00am-12.00pm
👟 Bring: Your Consent Form(you can collect this from reception before your walk), walking shoes, a water bottle, hat, sunscreen
😊 Who: Registered patients of our practice – all ages, all fitness levels
It’s a relaxed, social walk – no pressure, just a chance to stretch your legs, have a chat, and feel good.
Let’s walk, talk, and enjoy the journey together 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

06/08/2025

Introducing your new Health Coach:
Kia ora, my name is Laura Lee, I am a Health Coach at Stonesfield Medical Centre.
I support patients in gaining knowledge, skills, tools and confidence to become active participants in making positive lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing. I work collaboratively with patients in creating a plan towards their self-identified health goals, providing care, support and encouragement.
Whether you’re managing existing long-term conditions, preventing illnesses, or improving overall wellbeing. I can help you with:
• Managing conditions like prediabetes / diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Helping you understand your condition
• Eating habits
• Exercise
• Weight management
• Being smokefree, reducing smoking or va**ng
• Connecting you with a community social and culture support worker
My journey to Health Coaching comes from a background in business operations and leadership, working with people, and helping them thrive. I have a strong knowledge in exercise physiology and healthy eating.
Beyond the clinic, you will find me at the beach in the surf, playing tennis, yoga, boxing, cooking delicious food, and volunteering in the community. Please speak to your GP, our nursing team or reception to book in your FREE appointment with Laura on a Monday.

01/07/2025

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora launched an online 24/7 telemedicine service to help improve access to primary medical care for people who are not enrolled, unable to get a timely appointment, or need support after hours. Fees will be subsidised for children, young people and people who hold a Community Services Card.

This service compliments the Urgent and After-hours Framework by providing 24/7 access to video consultations with registered New Zealand GPs, Nurse Practitioners, and Emergency Medicine doctors. Like other urgent and after-hours services, this is designed to complement, not replace traditional general practice.
The eight approved online providers funded through this programme are:
▪ Bettr Online: www.bettr.co.nz
• CareHQ: www.carehq.co.nz
• Emergency Consult: www.emergencyconsult.co.nz
• MedOnline: www.medonline.co.nz
• Pocket Lab: www.pocketlab.nz
• Practice Plus www.practiceplus.nz
• Tend: www.tend.nz
• The Doctors Online: www.thedoctorsonline.co.nz

Fees are subsidised for children under 14, young people 14-17, and people who hold a Community Services Card (CSC).
If you choose to access this service for your after-hours needs the provider will confirm the cost when you book the appointment via their website.
Find out more at: https://info.health.nz/services-support/online-phone-healthcare/online-gp-care

08/06/2025

Men’s Health Week
This week is Men’s Health Week – a great opportunity to pause and reflect on your own health and wellbeing.
Whether it’s booking that overdue health appointment, starting a new healthy habit, or simply taking a moment to reflect on your wellbeing – small steps can make a big difference.
It’s also a great time to encourage the men in your life – friends, family, and colleagues – to do the same. The Men's Health Week website has a range of useful information and resources for you to check out as well, including:
• The What’s Your Score? Test, a quick health survey that could provide some helpful tips
• An introduction to key health issues for guys, available on their health information pages.
https://menshealthweek.co.nz/
You can also make a Wellness Check appointment with our Health Improvement Practitioner Michelle Cooney. The service is free and if you would like to make an appointment please feel free to call reception to make a booking.

TAKE THE HEALTH SURVEY WHAT’S YOUR SCORE TAKE THE HEALTH SURVEY WHAT’S YOUR SCORE? Welcome to Men’s Health Week Hi, great to have you here.Thanks for being part of Men’s Health Week which will roll around once again on the 9th-15th of June 2025. Men’s Health Week aims to help you get right...

30/04/2025

Sore throats are common in adults and can be uncomfortable, but the good news is they’re usually not serious and can be managed effectively. Want to learn about the best ways to treat a sore throat? Watch our helpful video using the link below https://youtu.be/jieBwSxQG40

26/03/2025

Flu Vaccinations are available from Tuesday 1st April 2025. Call our reception team to organise your appointment with the nursing team: 09 320 0168.
The following groups are eligible for free MoH funded flu immunisation:
• Pregnant people
• People 65 years of age and over
• People under 65 years of age with certain eligible health conditions
• People under 65 years of age with serious mental health and addiction conditions
• Children 4 years of age and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness.
For those not eligible for the free vaccine the cost is $38.00.
Or if you prefer, there is a paid influenza vaccine specifically designed for over 65s. It offers greater protection against the flu in people aged 65 years and over compared with the standard flu vaccine. The cost of this is $50.00.
For further information about the flu: https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/flu-influenza

26/03/2025

Please note change of Day and new time:
NOW: Monday from 10.00 - 11.00 am

Hot off the Press 📰📰 Come Join our Health Coach, Kristina in your new Walking Group:
Why walk? Walking is fun, it’s enjoyable, it releases “feel good hormones” and improves your mood and wellbeing
Who can join: Patients enrolled at clinic. Must be able to walk independently at a slow to medium pace, up to 3 km.
Time: Walk will take 20-30 minutes
When: Monday 10.00 - 11.00 am.
We leave from outside the Clinic (Stonefield’s Medical) and come back to the Clinic.
Streets we cover: Stonefields Ave, Tephra Blv. We walk to Maungarei Springs Wetlands then come back via Kauriki Terrace, Fynes Ave, Stonemason Ave, back to clinic.
Total distance: Up to 3 km
What to bring: Signed consent form. Water bottle, walking shoes, sun hat/sunscreen
If you are interested or would like further information:
Pop in to see your Health Coach (Kristina). Available, Monday and Tuesdays 8.30-4.30pm and Thursday afternoon's from 2.00-4.30pm. OR Meet outside the clinic on Tuesday's at 1.50 PM. We can give you a consent form to complete, or pick one up by popping in to see Kristina or ask at Reception. Kristina is looking forward to walking with you.

10/03/2025

📢 GREAT NEWS: BOWEL SCREENING NOW STARTS AT 58! 🎉

The National Bowel Screening Programme is lowering the starting age from 60 to 58, meaning an extra 122,000 people can access free screening in the first year alone. Early detection saves lives, so this is a big step forward!

Here's what you need to know:

✅ New age range: 58 to 74 years
✅ Stage 1: Begins October 2025 in two Health New Zealand regions (to be confirmed) ✅ Stage 2: Expands nationwide in March 2026 ✅ No action needed: If you're turning 58 or already 58, your screening kit will arrive around your next birthday, or you'll get a call from your local health provider.

🎁 Turning 60? Your kit will still arrive as usual.

Learn more at www.timetobowelscreen.nz and help spread the word! Early detection can make all the difference.

20/02/2025

From 1st March we are updating our after-hours support. If you telephone us when we are closed you will be directed to Healthline.
Need support for you or your whānau after we’re closed? You can call Healthline FREE of charge!
Healthline is a 24-hour FREE telephone health advice service where you can talk to qualified
health professionals.
You can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
• For trusted health advice, treatment and information about what to do next from nurses,
paramedics and advisors
• You can choose to speak with a Māori clinician if you’re calling between 8am and 8pm
• Interpreter services and NZ Relay support are also available