Carefirst Medical Centres

15/01/2026

Thanks for the shout out The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)! Providing sustainable healthcare to our wonderful community is one of core values and we are super proud of our team who are doing this mahi everyday 💪👏🥰

🌿 Carefirst New Plymouth is leading the way in sustainable healthcare!

In 2022, they discovered that 71% of their carbon emissions came from landfill waste and they took action.

✅ At Westown, recycling is a priority: plastics, glass, paper, batteries, ink cartridges, soft plastics, and even compostables are all diverted from landfill.
✅ They’ve changed ordering habits to reduce surplus and waste.
✅ The results? In 2024, Westown recycled over 60% of its total waste, compared to just 10% at other sites.

💡 Carefirst proves small change makes a big impact.

What steps can your practice take to reduce waste and lead the way in sustainability?

13/01/2026

🎉 👶🏼Another Carefirst pēpi is on the way! 😍Today we celebrated the impending arrival of Dr Brittany Aldridge’s baby boy, as she is now off on maternity leave.

It's such an exciting time, and we’re all absolutely thrilled for Brittany and her whānau.

While Brittany is away soaking up newborn cuddles, Dr Rita Karabedyan will be caring for her patients and keeping everything running smoothly. Join us in wishing Brittany all the best as she steps into this special new chapter!

12/01/2026

Heading to the beach this summer? Make it a safe one, especially if you're heading to one you're unfamiliar with! Check safeswim.org.nz or the Safeswim app for the latest patrol times, water conditions, and to see where and when lifeguards are on duty.

🚩🏊

31/12/2025

🎉Happy New Year from the Carefirst team 🎉
We hope you've all had a wonderful holiday season! We’re back open from Monday 5 January, ready to support your health and wellbeing for the year ahead.

23/12/2025

👉 For Dr Emily Allen, general practice has always been more than medicine — it’s about people, connection, and community.

Emily originally planned to pursue a career in cancer research, but quickly realised she missed working directly with patients. Becoming a GP turned out to be the perfect fit — a place where science, problem‑solving, and genuine human connection all come together! 🎉👏

That dedication has now been recognised at the highest level, with Emily officially gaining Fellowship with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners!
She becomes Carefirst’s 16th Fellow, continuing her family’s legacy of care and adding to our long‑standing commitment to clinical excellence.

📣🥳 Show your support - like and comment below, and read more about Emily’s journey to Fellowship on our Community News page: www.carefirst.co.nz/community-news/

19/12/2025

🎄✨ Carefirst Christmas & New Year Hours ✨🎄

Kia ora Carefirst whānau! The festive season is nearly here, and we know it can be a busy time for everyone. Whether you’re visiting one of our GP clinics or our Urgent Care clinic (enrolled and casual patients welcome), our team will be here to support you over Christmas and New Year.

💚❤ Please note that opening times will be slightly different to normal during the holiday period, but we’ll return to our usual hours (8:30am–5pm, Monday to Friday) from Monday 5 January.

💚❤ From all of us at Carefirst, we wish you a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.

16/12/2025

👩‍⚕️ We’re delighted to welcome Dr Fazna Badurdeen back from maternity leave to Carefirst Merrilands Medical Centre!

Fazna is now taking new patients - the perfect time to enrol if you’ve been looking for a trusted GP.

👉 Contact Carefirst Merrilands Medical Centre to enrol:
- email@merrilandsmedical.co.nz
- (06) 758 8773

If our Moturoa or Bell Block clinics are more convenient - great news - they're also enrolling new patients! Take the step towards great care for you and your whānau with Carefirst.

10/12/2025

👩‍⚕️Need urgent care?👨‍⚕️ The Carefirst Urgent Care (99 Tukapa Street, New Plymouth) is here for you. No enrolment needed, just walk in Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm.

👉Onsite services include physio, pharmacy and x‑ray (with no ACC surcharge).
👉Enrolled Carefirst patients also enjoy reduced Urgent Care fees.

Accessible, caring, and ready when you need us, we’re proud to support the wider Taranaki community. Check our website for Christmas & New Year hours.

👉Looking for a GP? Carefirst Bell Block, Merrilands and Moturoa medical centres are welcoming new patients. Find out more at www.carefirst.co.nz

08/12/2025

🌱🎃 Pumpkin planting season is back at Carefirst and our team gathered over the weekend under another gorgeous Taranaki sky to plant more than 50 pumpkin seedlings, continuing a tradition inspired by the Grow a Little Extra campaign from Waitara Foodbank - Pataka Kai.

This year’s bountiful harvest (pictured) was donated to New Plymouth Community Foodbank and Waitara Foodbank - Pataka Kai, and we’re excited to see what this new crop will bring for local whānau next year.

A huge tēnā koe/thank you to Steve from Kōia - gardening for well-being and his whānau for generously sharing their whenua/land as our pumpkin patch; to their neighbour for supplying the horse poo (the secret ingredient to strong, healthy vines 🐴💩🎃🤫) and to our wonderful team for all of their hard mahi/work! 💪

Community, sustainability, and care are at the heart of what we do, so here’s to another season of growth and giving!

26/11/2025

🦻What’s hiding in your ears?

From wax to moths, cockroaches, cotton buds, even the odd gemstone, Pauline, Flynn & Bronwyn from Carefirst’s aural microsuctioning (ear wax removal) team have seen it all! 👉 Read the full story in our latest blog: www.carefirst.co.nz/community-news/

Got irritated ears or struggling to hear? Book your appointment today at Carefirst Westown Medical Centre on (06) 753 9505 or email@carefirst.co.nz

And remember: you don’t have to be a Carefirst patient — this service is open to everyone in the community.

Clearer hearing could be just one appointment away.