Timaru Primary Care

10/05/2023

POSITIVITY STARTS WITH KINDNESS ❤️

One of the easiest ways to boost yourself is to do something nice for others.

Do you know someone in need of some extra aroha (love)? Whether it's baking cookies for a neighbour, lending a hand to a colleague who has too much on their plate or just giving a hug to a friend who's had a bad day, you never know what ripple effect can start with a single act of kindness.

Find more inspiration here 👉 https://mentalhealth.org.nz/five-ways-to-wellbeing/give-tukua

www.primarycare.co.nz

31/08/2021

BACK IN ALERT LEVEL 3 — A QUICK REMINDER

At 11:59 PM tonight (31 August), everywhere south of Auckland will shift to alert level 3. Here’s a quick reminder on what that means for your health care:

1) Health and medical facilities (such as medical practices and pharmacies) are an essential service.

2) We remain open during all Alert Levels. However, our practice is now reimplementing some safety measures as part of our response to Alert Level 3.

3) If you require any medical assistance, please phone our practice first.

4) All patients will be screened during their initial phone call to determine their next steps. Please do not turn up unannounced.

Sign-ins are also now mandatory (https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/latest-updates/record-keeping-to-become-mandatory-for-most-events-and-businesses/) at busy places (such as healthcare facilities). Please make sure you scan in using the COVID-19 Tracer App or make a manual record when visiting our practice.

It’s important to remember everyone responds and copes with Alert Level changes differently. While it may not feel like a big deal to some, others find it challenging and need reassurance and support.

It’s all right if you need to talk right now. Reach out to a mate, free call/text 1737 to chat with a trained counsellor, or make an appointment with your GP. We’re here to help.

www.primarycare.co.nz

26/08/2021

THE CANCER SOCIETY NEEDS YOUR HELP — DAFFODIL DAY 2021

COVID-19 has taken away the Cancer Society's Daffodil Day Street Appeal for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately, the demand for their cancer services goes up during lockdown. And that's why they need your help now more than ever.

AWHI MAI, AWHI ATU

The Cancer Society believe no one should go through their cancer journey alone.

Whether it's driving someone to their treatment, providing advice to someone who has rung our 0800 number, or sitting with them during their treatment — the Cancer Society is there. But they can't do this without your help.

Every dollar raised for Daffodil Day will go towards cancer care for patients and their whānau, education and awareness programmes, and life-saving cancer research.

DONATE HERE 👉 https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/donate

We're also encouraging everyone to donate via ANZ's Digital Daffodil after the company announced they are matching every $1 donated with an extra $2 in the hope of raising $1.5 million for the Cancer Society.

Learn more here 👉 https://news.anz.com/new-zealand/posts/2021/08/daffodil-day-match-donations?fbclid=IwAR3cLTlIOkYa2on3aIhAvIcehQ9xAiIVDh3t3Gg0YdERzgAY1l_ZTYtMo3g

25/08/2021

30+ — IT'S YOUR TIME

Everybody aged 30 and over can now book their COVID-19 vaccine. Go to www.BookMyVaccine.nz to reserve your spot.

Once it’s your turn, you can get vaccinated at any time.

20/08/2021

New Zealand will remain at Alert Level 4 until 11.59pm on Tuesday 24 August with a review on Monday to determine next steps.

At Alert Level 4 you can only leave home to shop for groceries, access necessary healthcare, get a COVID-19 test, exercise in your local area, or go to work if you are working in an Alert Level 4 service and cannot work from home. Only make physical contact with those in your household bubble.

You legally must wear a face covering if you are a customer or an employee involving customer contact at a business or service operating at Alert Level 4.

If you have been at a location of interest or have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and get a test.

You can find locations of interest here: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/covid-19-contact-tracing-locations-interest

You can find testing centres here: https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/covid-19-testing/community-testing-centres/

The health system is still operating. If you need healthcare, you can access care the same way you normally would. If that is your GP, give them a ring. If that’s Healthline, ring free on 0800 611 116. In an emergency immediately dial 111.

Be patient, be kind, stay informed.

17/08/2021

OUR HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE STILL AVAILABLE DURING ALERT LEVEL 4

Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced NZ was to shift to Alert Level 4 at 11:59 PM in response to a positive community case.

As you probably know by now, the Government recognises health and medical facilities (such as medical practices and pharmacies) as essential services. We always remain open — even in a Level 4 lockdown.

If you require any medical assistance, please phone our practice. All patients will be screened during their initial phone call to determine their’ next steps’. If you have a booked appointment, our team will be in contact.

Dial 111 if you need urgent help.

Most consultations will happen over the phone (or by videoconference, FaceTime, Skype, etc.) to stop any risk of the disease spreading by person-to-person contact. If a face-to-face meeting is required, our team will organise this with you.

You may also find the following information helpful:

What staying at home means — https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-4/ -at-home-%E2%80%94-what-it-means

Food and shopping — https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-4/ -and-shopping

How to access healthcare — https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/alert-level-4/ -to-access-healthcare

Locations of interest in New Zealand — https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/contact-tracing-covid-19/covid-19-contact-tracing-locations-interest

Finally, there’s no reason to panic. Let’s keep up the kindness, keep looking after each other, and do what it takes to get through together (again).

If you need to talk, check-in with a friend or whānau member, or free call/text 1737 to chat with a trained counsellor. It’s free and confidential.

13/08/2021

DAFFODIL DAY IS ON 27 AUGUST 2021 (FRIDAY)

Every day, 71 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer.

For over 30 years, New Zealanders have supported the work of the Cancer Society on Daffodil Day, and they need your help again this year. There are many ways you can support this fantastic organisation:

Donate 👉 https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/donate
Fundraise 👉 https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/fundraise
Volunteer 👉 https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/volunteer
Fresh flowers 👉 https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/freshflowers

By supporting Daffodil Day, you ensure no one in New Zealand goes through cancer alone.

Learn more at https://www.daffodilday.org.nz/

Cancer doesn't stop, so we won't either.

10/08/2021

HOW TO: READ FOOD LABELS

Taking time to read food labels when you’re shopping can have big health benefits. However, it can be hard to make sense of all those numbers.

Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the supermarket and decipher food labels:

THE INGREDIENTS LIST

The 'ingredient list' on food labels lists things used in the product in order of size — from most to least. It can help to identify sources of fat, sugar and salt and how many extra ingredients have been added.

Generally speaking, shorter lists (with more ingredients you recognise) are better.

NUTRITION INFORMATION PANELS (NIPs)

Nutrition information panels can be confusing with all those different numbers. As a general rule, then, keep the 3 Ss (saturated fat, sugar and sodium) to a minimum.

HEALTH STARS

Health Stars are a front-of-pack labeling system designed to identify healthier choices within broad food categories. The more stars, the better!

If you're concerned about your lifestyle, talk to your GP, NP or nurse. They can help you formulate a healthy living plan and ensure you're fueling your body in a safe, sustainable manner.

www.primarycare.co.nz

06/08/2021

WHAT IS A COLD?

The common cold (and most upper respiratory infections) are caused by infections with germs — viral infections. They usually get better in a week or two.

This video gives some tips on what to do and what symptoms to look out for.

www.primarycare.co.nz

05/08/2021

ARE YOU 55 OR OLDER? RESERVE YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE!

Everybody aged 55 and over can book their COVID-19 vaccine from Friday 6 August. Go to BookMyVaccine.nz to reserve your spot.

05/08/2021

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VA**NG

E-ci******es are a tool to help you quit smoking.

While they help some people stop using ci******es, they're not harmless. So if you don't smoke, don't start va**ng.

KEY POINTS

1) Va**ng is a lot less harmful than smoking. This is because the health problems from smoking mainly come from inhaling to***co smoke, not from the ni****ne.

2) Va**ng is not harmless, however. So, only do it to help you to quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start va**ng.

3)If you use va**ng to help you quit smoking, stop to***co smoking completely. Even low rates of to***co smoking are harmful.

4) Only some va**ng liquids have ni****ne in them. Smokers who switch to va**ng with ni****ne-containing liquids are more likely to quit than those who v**e with non-ni****ne-containing liquids.

5) Don't v**e if you are pregnant. The liquid heated to produce the vapour in e-ci******es contains chemicals that may harm your unborn baby.

GET THE FACTS 👉 https://www.va**ngfacts.health.nz/the-facts-of-va**ng/

www.primarycare.co.nz