Eastern Bays Health Centre

30/09/2025

Vasectomy is a safe and effective method of permanent contraception for men. A vasectomy is simple, quick and virtually painless.

If you have decided a vasectomy is the best option for yourself, for your partner or for your family you can visit our partner practice Johnsonville Medical Centre (JMC) for the procedure. JMC offer vasectomy appointments for both patients and non-patients.

The vasectomy is performed by Dr Owen Miller; Owen has performed many vasectomies over his career. You will first meet with Owen for a pre-consult to discuss the process, then come back for the procedure itself. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.

If this is something you are interested in, please book directly with JMC by calling them on 04 920 8850. Please tell them upon booking if you are a patient at Eastern Bays Health Centre.

For full information, including pricing, please visit the JMC website https://www.johnsonvillemedical.co.nz/services/vasectomy

22/09/2025

Do you have a cervix? If you answered yes, are you up to date with your cervical screening? 🤔 September is Cervical Screening Awareness Month. Most cervical cancers are preventable with regular cervical screening. Nearly 85% of people diagnosed with cervical cancer had either never been screened or were infrequently screened 🤯

Cervical screening has gotten easier with the HPV self-swab test! You are in charge, your nurse/GP will either leave the room, or you can visit the bathroom to do the test yourself. A little swish around and you are good to go! Of course, if you prefer not to do the test yourself your nurse or GP can do it for you not a problem. There are cases where the previous smear test style will need to be used, your nurse or GP will advise you if that is required.

If the results look good, that's it for another FIVE years. Testing is free if you are:
👋 aged 30 years and over and have never been screened; or
🫶 Māori and Pacific wāhine aged 25 to 69 years; or
👍 aged 25 to 69 and hold a Community Services Card

For the full criteria, please visit https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/cervical-screening/cervical-screening-options

Call us on 04 387 9758 to book ☎

HPV screening is the method for cervical screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPV testing is a better first screening test. It looks for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. There are 2 types of screening options.

21/09/2025

Senior Hospital Doctors are going on strike this Tuesday and Wednesday and some hospital services will be disrupted; here is what you need to know:

🩺 all emergency departments will remain open but EDs will need to be kept for emergencies only

🚑 if it is an emergency, call 111 immediately — do not delay seeking help if you or someone else is in a serious or life-threatening condition

☎️ If you are unsure it is an emergency, call us on 04 387 9758 to speak with a nurse for advice

📞 call Healthline on 0800 611 116, Healthline provides free medical advice and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

🕰 please note that patients presenting to emergency departments with non-urgent conditions will likely experience additional delays — your patience is greatly appreciated

📅 most hospital clinic appointments will have been rescheduled, if you have an appointment booked for the day of the strike, attend your appointment unless you have been contacted directly to have your appointment rescheduled

🏥 hospitals and healthcare services will continue to provide acute and emergency care, this includes maternity care, intensive care, emergency department care and ambulance services
patients in hospital will receive the care and support they need.

18/09/2025

Today’s kupu o te rā is Rūma Tatari – Waiting Room 🕑

We try not to have you in the Rūma Tatari for too long! Although please be mindful that the appointment before you might be for a sensitive or upsetting topic and sometimes our tākuta (doctor) do run late.

If you are coming in for a routine appointment, write down the one or two key things you need to discuss with your GP so you're prepared and ready when it's your turn. Help other patients by keeping your time within the 15minute appointment time if you can. If you know you might need longer, book a double appointment. Double appointments can only be made over the phone, routine single appointments can be made via phone or ManageMyHealth.

To book an appointment, either routine or single, call us on 04 387 9758 ☎️

17/09/2025

Today’s kupu o te rā is taringa – ear 👂

If your taringa are a bit blocked up or causing you discomfort, come and see us for ear suctioning. Make sure you use oil in your taringa at night for five days before your appointment to ensure we can get the best result for you.

For more information on this service, or to book into our ear suction clinic, please call us on 04 387 9758.

16/09/2025

Today’s rerenga kōrero o te rā is Wharepaku Tāne/Wāhine - Rūma Tīni Kope – unisex toilet, baby change.

More of a sign than a conversation this one, and very fitting as our wharepaku is now officially Wharepaku Tāne/Wāhine - Rūma Tīni Kope with the installation of the new changing table this week 👶

15/09/2025

Due to staff illness, we will be closing at 3:45pm today. If you need to be seen today after this time, please visit the Wellington Accident and Medical Centre, 17 Adelaide Road. This is a walk-in service. If it is an emergency, please dial 111 for ambulance assistance.

If you need to request a repeat prescription, you can call us on 387 9758 and select option one to leave a voicemail. These messages will be cleared on Wednesday.

We will be back open from 8am Wednesday, apologies for any inconvenience.

15/09/2025

Today’s kupu o te rā is Ihu – nose. I broke my ihu and it is very mamae (sore!) 👃🤕

If this does happen to you, call us on 04 387 9758 for advice!

14/09/2025

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! Welcome to Māori language week! This year it has been 50 years since Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori was established, tu meke!

Each day this wiki (week) we will post a kupu o te rā (word of the day) or rerenga kōrero o te rā (phrase of the day) that relates to the clinic or a body part. Have a go!

Today’s kupu o te rā is Kiripaepae – Reception. Don’t forget to check-in with kiripaepae on arrival to the clinic 👌

08/09/2025

BreastScreen Aotearoa have moved to a new digital system called Te Puna to streamline booking mammograms.

People who are not currently enrolled and are eligible, or due for a screen, will now receive a personalised link that allows you to book your screening procedure. You will be sent the link via email, text or mail. The best thing about this link? You won’t be charged for or use any of your personal mobile data! It is free to use, regardless of how much data or credit you have.

And in great news, from 1 October 2025 the eligibility age is being extended to 75 years old. This will be in full effect from the end of 2029.

For more information, please visit

The age for free breast screening has been extended in Nelson and Marlborough for women aged 70 and 74. The rest of Aotearoa will launch October 2025 and will be phased in year on year up to the age of 74.

04/09/2025

Is your child navigating grief and loss? The team at Skylight Trust offer an 8-week programme specifically for children who find themselves in this situation 🕊

The programme, Matika, is dedicated bereavement support for children aged 6-12 years old. It is designed to help them process their grief in a safe, supportive and age-appropriate environment. The programme includes creative activities, peer support and professional guidance. Children will get help on expressing their feelings, build resilience and connect with other children in a similar position. Each course has a maximum number of 8 participants.

Matika is free and runs in Wellington, Porirua and Kāpiti. You can be referred through your GP or directly by emailing programmes@skylight.org.nz

For more information, visit the Skylight Trust website

Matika is a supportive, therapeutic programme created especially for tamariki aged 6–12 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Designed with a resilience-building and trauma-informed approach, Matika helps tamariki understand, express, and process their grief in a safe, nurturing environme...

11/08/2025

The meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero, will be available to all tamariki under 5 who did not receive the immunisation as part of their childhood schedule from 1 September 2025.

Previously this vaccine was only available to tamariki 12 months and under.

Meningococcal is a disease that can progress rapidly and has the risk of becoming life-threatening very quickly.

Children under 5 are one of the highest risk groups to contract meningococcal. Meningococcal can also lead to inflammation around the brain (meningitis) or a blood infection.

If you would like to get your child vaccinated, or to see if they have received the vaccine already, please call us on 04 387 9758 and speak with a nurse 🦸‍♀️