The Doctors Richmond

24/12/2025

Summer Skin Care🔅

Looking after your skin now can significantly reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

*Use sunscreen every day (SPF 30+ or higher) on exposed skin, and reapply every 2 hours when outdoors.
* Cover up with clothing, including long sleeves, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-protective sunglasses.
*Seek shade, especially between 10am and 4pm when the sun’s rays are strongest.
*Avoid tanning beds and intentional tanning, as they increase skin damage and cancer risk.
*Check your skin every 3 months for new or changing spots, moles, or patches that look different from the rest.
See your GP or a skin specialist if you notice changes or anything unusual.

22/12/2025

More Healthcare Assistant Clinics
Our Healthcare Assistants (HCAs), Helena and Ella, work collaboratively with our clinical team, under the guidance of our nurses. They provide administrative and clinical support to manage patient flow, perform routine tasks, and contribute to the overall efficiency and quality of care.

We are pleased to be opening up more HCA clinics to support patients and their families. Helena and Ella can:

Help patients make healthy lifestyle changes
Perform ECGs, blood pressure checks, basic obs, HPV swabs, blood tests, and more — Reception will be happy to advise further.
Connect patients with the right services in our community.

19/12/2025

Melanomas - what to look out for

A Melanoma often starts as a new spot on your skin, but an existing mole can turn into melanoma too.

Common signs to look out for include:

*New moles or growths on the skin
*Changes in size, shape, or colour of existing moles
*Moles that are asymmetrical or have irregular borders
*Variations in colour within a mole
*A mole or spot that looks different from others on your body

SCAN is an easy way to remember the key things to watch for on your skin.
Source: skincancercollege.org

If you notice one or more of the above changes on your skin, book an appointment with your GP or NP.

Your practitioner will look at the area(s) of concern and advise what the next steps are. It’s important you share any relevant history about your skin, including any family history of skin cancer.

Depending on diagnosis, your practitioner may book you for a mole removal or refer you to a specialist service for further assessment, biopsy or removal. Melanoma has many different sizes, shapes and colours. Any change on your skin should be checked by a doctor. If caught and treated early, melanoma is almost always curable.

17/12/2025

Spotting and preventing skin cancer

New Zealand has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, with overexposure to UV radiation from the sun being the main cause.
There are three main types of skin cancer:

1. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It often appears as a pink patch or bump that may bleed or feel itchy. BCCs usually stay in one place and don’t spread around the body, but they can be more concerning on the face because of the delicate structures and the risk of scarring.

2. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a more serious type of skin cancer because it can sometimes spread to nearby lymph glands. SCCs often develop from long-term sun damage or from “sunspots.” They usually look scaly or crusty and may be tender or sore to touch.

3. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, as it can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, even in areas that don’t get much sun. They can be flat or raised, grow quickly or slowly, and although often dark, they can sometimes be pink or lighter in colour.

Skin checks are a standard service offered by all our medical centres. If you or a family member are experiencing skin conditions that worry you, please book...

15/12/2025

Welcome to Angela Barnes - Nurse Practitioner

Angela Barnes has recently returned to work from parental leave, and is available for video consultations.

Through virtual consults, Angela is able to provide complete full assessments, write scripts for medicines and order any tests you might need. Her background is in Palliative Care but she is enjoying her recent move to General Practice, and looks forward to helping you with your health needs.

Angela lives in Queenstown with her husband, 1st son (6 year old miniature dachshund) and 2nd son (3 month old baby boy). She enjoys gardening, baking sweet treats and anything creative.

Please note: the following presentations are not suitable for video consultations:

*Chest pain
*Acute Shortness of breath (Can see Chronic Shortness of Breath)
*Severe allergic reaction
*Poisoning
*Severe bleeding or burns
*Severe pain or headache
*Head injury or broken bones
*Serious mental crisis or considering self-harm
*Opioid medication management (codeine, fentanyl, morphine/sevredol)
*Hypnotic medication management (sleep inducing – benzodiazepine)
*CBD medication management

13/12/2025

Welcome back to Dr Daniel Strange!👨‍⚕️

We're thrilled to be welcoming back Dr Daniel Strange who will be working on Mondays and Fridays, consulting for our same-day appointments.

12/12/2025

New triage system

We’ve recently introduced a new triage system that’s been used successfully across New Zealand and Australia.

When you call to book an appointment, our medical receptionists will ask a few questions about your concern so we can assess how urgent it is and who the most appropriate clinician is for you to see. This process is overseen and audited by our Lead GP, Tom, and Lead Nurse, Tracey.

If you prefer not to discuss your symptoms with reception, we can book you a nurse appointment for assessment instead. Please note this may incur a nurse fee.

11/12/2025

Meet the Team - Welcome to Dr Jill Gasiewicz

Dr Jill Gasiewicz and her family have made the move to New Zealand from the USA and will be joining us in January 2026. Jill will be working closely with Dr Currie while she settles into the NZ Primary care system. Appointments with Jill will be available from March.

11/12/2025

The Holidays are almost here!

Please plan ahead for repeat prescriptions and routine appointments, as demand often increases at this time of year!

Holiday hours🎅🕎:

24 December: Open 8am to 3pm
25-28 December: Closed
29-31 December: Open 8am to 3pm for urgent appointments only (appointments allocated on the day)
1-4 January 2025: Closed
Monday, 5 January 2026: Normal hours resume

Repeat prescriptions💊:

We are closed for the upcoming public holidays so please ensure that you request your prescriptions in time. The cut-off date for all prescription requests is 18 December (for email orders - prescriptions@rich.thedoctors.co.nz) and 22 December for The Doctors App orders. Don’t forget to add a pharmacy when you submit a request.

Please note: the standard turnaround time for processing a repeat script is 72 hours for email orders and 48 hours for App orders.

Need care while we’re closed?

Urgent, after hours medical care can be accessed at Medical and Injury Nelson, or the Emergency Department at Nelson Hospital. For general health advice, call 📞Healthline on 0800 611 116. In an emergency, call📞 111.

27/11/2025

Please plan ahead for repeat prescriptions and routine appointments, as demand often increases at this time of year!

Holiday hours 🎅🕎:

24 December: 8am - 3pm (reduced service - acute needs only)
25-26 December 2025: closed
29-31 December: 8am - 3pm (reduced service - acute needs only)
1-2 January: closed
Monday, 5 January 2026 - normal hours resume

Repeat prescriptions:
Please submit your repeat prescription requests early so we can process them before the holidays. Cut-off for pre-Christmas fulfilment is 18 December for email orders and 22 December for The Doctors App orders. When you order, please remember to include the pharmacy name/location you’d like us to send your script to.

Need care while we’re closed?
Please visit your nearest after-hours urgent care facility. Or call 📞Healthline on 0800 611 116 for general health advice. In an emergency, call 111.

17/11/2025

Measles Outbreak - Free vaccines

Measles is highly infectious. This year in Aotearoa New Zealand we have already had cases of measles.

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is now FREE in New Zealand for adults and children.

After one dose of the vaccine, around 95% of people are fully protected, and after 2 doses, 99% of people are fully protected.

The MMR vaccine is the best form of protection against measles.
Book your free MMR vaccine today at one of our medical centres! If you or your whānau feel unwell, please stay home and call us before visiting.

Learn more: https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles

07/11/2025

Game on, Nelson!

We’re thrilled to sponsor the Nelson Netball Twilight League alongside our neighbours at The Doctors Motueka. Championing healthy bodies and minds, and a connected community is what we’re all about.

We’ll be courtside on selected nights with wellness checks and of course, to cheer the teams on.

Stay tuned for updates as we team up with Nelson Netball for a great season ahead!