• ACC
• Advanced Care Planning
• Babies
• Cardiovascular Risk
• Cold and Flu
• Contraception
• Diabetes
• Gender Diversity 
• Hearing
• Joint Injections
• Long Term Conditions
• Medicals
• Men's Health
• Mental Health
• Quit Smoking
• Sexual Health & STI's
• Cervical Screening
• Weight Loss
• Women's Health

What is a Health Improvement Practitioner?

A Health Improvement Practitioner otherwise known as a HIP is part of a general practice team. They work with patients to achieve goals by providing support and follow-up for issues related to mental health. 

What can a health improvement practitioner help with? 

A HIP can see people of all ages and at all stages of their lives and help with any type of issue related to behaviour change or mental wellbeing. Your GP or doctor may refer you to a health improvement practitioner when you are in a GP clinic and you can usually see them immediately to provide clinical support. A typical consultation with a HIP will take about 30 minutes and is usually focused on evidence-based brief interventions. They can also educate other team members and help to develop pathways and protocols around mental wellbeing and addiction support. Being based in a general practice, there are no barriers as to who can see them, as long as you are enrolled in the practice. Appointments/consultations are funded. 

What training does a health improvement practitioner have? 

A HIP will need to complete specialist training in the Te Tumu Waiora primary mental health model – a new model of mental health and addictions care and support in general practice. This new mental health model aims to provide all New Zealanders experiencing mental distress or addictions challenges with access to convenient, high quality, integrated and person-centered care and support.

The Doctors Silverstream has a part time Community Support Worker. 

What does a Community Support worker do? 

Community Support Workers are able to help patients that are over 18, not already receiving any support from a Non- Governmental Organisation or District Health Board and are experiencing difficulties that are affecting mental wellbeing. Some examples of what the Support Worker can help support with: 

• MSD entitlements issues 
• Housing Mild to moderate mental health and addictions issues 
• Counselling referrals 
• Food bank referrals 
• Family relationship issues 
• Employment support to find and maintain work 
• Stress Anxiety Depression symptoms 
• Budgeting struggles 
• Isolation 
• Goal planning support 
• Total mobility cards for discount transport 
• Funding for physical activity classes 
• Funding for items that remove barriers to goal attainment (under $300). 

If a need is beyond the Support Workers scope of practice they will support patients to link into a pre-established service that will meet their requirements. Patients do need to be referred from a The Doctors Silverstream Staff member. Once referred the Support Worker will then make contact to discuss possible supports.

The Doctors Silverstream has a part time Health Coach who works in the practice on a Thursday and every second Monday.

What does a Health Coach do?

A Health Coach meets with patients regarding their health and wellbeing journey. They provide walk-alongside support to help individuals gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to reach the direction they want to go! They can help to set goals and action healthy lifestyle choices to improve all aspects of their wellbeing.

Examples of what a Health Coach can help patients with:

• learning about good nutrition, healthier meal alternatives and helping those on a weight-loss journey
• getting into more exercise and general activity 
• living well with long-term health conditions
• improving sleep quality and learning stress-management strategies
• smoking cessation 
• long term goal setting!

The Doctors Silverstream offer a limited amount of same day appointments for patients who have urgent issues which need to be dealt with immediately. This clinic is intended for patients who have an urgent condition that cannot wait for a routine appointment. Once this clinic is at capacity you will be directed to alternative providers.

Patients seen in the same day acute care clinic will be seen by a doctor, nurse or nurse practitioner. People with urgent life threatening conditions will be seen as a priority, so you may not always be seen at the time you were asked to come in. The clinic doctor or nurse practitioner changes everyday so you may not be able to see your regular clinician in this clinic.

Please note, routine issues such as WINZ forms and insurance medicals do not qualify as urgent and will not be given a same day appointment in this clinic. These clinics are reserved for those who have serious clinical issues.

To request an appointment in the urgent clinic, please phone reception.

Cost

Same day acute care appointments have a normal appointment charge. If you need a script but no appointment, the usual script charge will apply. Nurse charges may apply.

Please see fees here.

Why is the practice doing this?

We have an acute clinic from Monday to Friday to ensure that patients with serious or urgent conditions can be seen as soon as possible. The acute clinic is staffed by all the doctors and nurses on a roster. This also ensures that when you have a routine appointment with your doctor they will not be called away to see urgent cases. This means better care for everyone.

Manage My Health. 

Manage My Health is an online system that allows you to access your medical records, view medical conditions, lab results, immunisation records, allergies, prescriptions and share health information as required with other healthcare providers. 

It offers services such as booking online appointments, secure messaging and ordering repeat prescriptions. Manage My Health would help you to take charge to stay on top of your health and wellbeing and is accessible online, anytime.  

To sign up for Manage My Health you do need to have an email unique to the individual. Please complete the below form and return to the Centre. Patients 14yrs and older are required to sign their own form.

Manage My Health Registration Form

If you would like more information, please head to: https://www.managemyhealth.co.nz/individuals/

Immunisation is the most effective way to actively protect you and your child from preventable diseases, such as whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and measles.

The first time we are exposed to a germ, for example a bacterium or virus, it takes time for the immune system to respond and we become unwell. However, once the immune system has memory of the infection, it is able to respond rapidly to destroy the germ the next time we are exposed.

Vaccines contain parts of or weakened versions of a particular germ. Vaccination exposes the body to parts of the germ for the first time without causing disease, and subsequently, the real germ can be rapidly destroyed if it enters the body to prevent illness.

The national immunisation schedule

The national immunisation schedule provides the best protection for our children when they are most at risk.  From six weeks of age, children can be protected from several potentially dangerous diseases. It is very important to stick to the schedule – not immunising your child increases the risk of them getting the infection, and not keeping up to date reduces the protection that the immunisation can provide. It takes a few months and repeated doses of a vaccine for an infant to be fully protected. 

Scheduled childhood vaccinations are funded so no cost to you.

• chickenpox (varicella)
• diphtheria
• hepatitis B
• haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• measles
• mumps
• pneumococcal disease
• polio
• rotavirus
• rubella
• tetanus
• whooping cough (pertussis)
• human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Bexsero (meningococcal B strain)

Meningococcal disease vaccinations

For best protection against all meningococcal disease in New Zealand, there are 2 separate vaccinations. Bexsero protects against group B strain and Menactra or Niminrix protects against groups A, C, Y & W strains.

Only Bexsero is on the NZ schedule for all infants, given at age 3 months, 5 months and a booster at 12 months.

Menactra is only on the schedule for eligible groups; those living in close quarters like Uni halls, boarding school or prison.

Immunisation reminders

If you are enrolled at The Doctors Silverstream you will receive a recall 7-10 days prior to the immunisation due date for your child. You will then need to contact us to make an appointment. It’s important not to come earlier than the scheduled dates especially for Bexsero.

Immunisation appointments

We run designated immunisation clinics to ensure we are running as close to time as possible as you may be required to stay for 20 minutes after your appointment. Please bring your child’s WellChild book to your appointment.

Flu Vaccination

Flu can be anywhere and your best form of protection is to get a flu vaccine.  Influenza, commonly called the flu, can be a serious illness that is sometimes fatal. Infection with the flu virus may lead to a stay in hospital for any age group but particularly if you are elderly or have an ongoing medical condition. Flu can make an existing medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes, a lot worse.

Every year the practice runs a series of Flu clinics providing flu vaccinations for patients to try and immunise as many people prior to the winter flu season.

Shingles vaccination

The shingles vaccine protects against the herpes zoster infection, shingles. Vaccination with the shingles vaccine can reduce your risk of shingles and the long-term pain it can cause. It is only on the schedule and funded for adults aged 65 years.

We offer offer INR point of contact testing.

Point of contact INR is a easy and fast procedure to test your INR, in which we only need a small amount of blood (ladybird size) from a finger prick. 
This procedure takes 3 to 5 minutes, after which you will get your test results and warfarin dosing.

To book , please call us on 04 527 7376.
This service is free of charge for The Doctors Silverstream registered patients on warfarin. 

There are some minor surgical procedures which can be performed by your GP in our specialised treatment rooms, rather than having to go to a hospital. These appointments may require extra time so please discuss any of these with your doctor so appointments can be booked appropriately.

Minor surgical procedures performed at The Doctors Silverstream:

• Removal of skin lesions
• In-grown toenails
• Removal of contraceptive devices
• Steroid joint injections
• Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen for treating lesions, such as skin tags and verrucae.

Aclasta infusions are used in New Zealand for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease. These infusions are available at Silverstream Health Centre for enrolled patients and also to patients who may be referred from another medical centre.

During the infusion you will be administered with Zoledronate (also known as zoledronic acid or Aclasta). Zoledronate is given by an intravenous infusion (into a vein in the arm via a “drip”) over about 15-30 minutes and can be given each 12-24 months as needed for treatment of osteoporosis. 

The Cost of Health Care in New Zealand

Healthcare in New Zealand is a mixture of free services and subsidised services (where patients pay a fee to cover some of the costs). We will always try to ensure all our patients benefit from any funded services that they are eligible for.

Providing health care services and running a medical centre comes at a cost, including wages, building costs and medical supplies. Some services and fees, while subsidised, are in place to cover these costs.

Free and subsidised care is only available to New Zealand residents, with exceptions in some cases for visitors from countries like the UK and Australia as these countries have reciprocal agreements with New Zealand.

Ask our reception team if you think you may be entitled to a funded service for your visit.

Useful Information About Fees at The Doctors

General Practice Services

• Payment is due at time of consultation. Non-payment on the day will incur a $10 late-payment fee.

• All casual and non-enrolled patients are required to pay in full prior to their appointment.

• All fees are based on a single appointment, extended consultations may incur additional charges. Fees may vary due to the time taken and materials used.

• Medical consumables will be charged separately.

• Weekends, afterhours and public holidays will incur additional fees

• Accounts that are unpaid may be sent to Debt Collection. The debtor (patient) is responsible for all debt collection fees.

• Newly enrolled patients may require a double appointment for their first visit. A double appointment fee will apply.

• Four hours cancellation notice for a booked appointment is required. Non-attendance will incur a normal consultation fee.

• Our practice nurses are skilled professionals and there is a fee when you see them for advice or services.

• If you have a Community Services Card, you may be eligible for a reduced consultation or prescription fee.

Urgent Care Services

• Payment is required prior to your consultation. Fees may vary due to the time taken and materials used.

• Medical consumables will be charged separately.

• Weekends, afterhours and public holidays will incur additional fees.

• Accounts that are unpaid may be sent to Debt Collection. The debtor (patient) is responsible for all debt collection fees.

Additional charges apply for procedures, materials and nurse consults

Read our Standard Payment Terms and Conditions here.

Additional charges apply for procedures, materials and nurse consults

Read our Standard Payment Terms and Conditions here.

Other charges

• Overseas visitors: $209.00
• Blood test: $11.00
• Repeat script: $27.50 CSC holders 18+ $19.50, 14-17 $13.00
• Under 14 script: no charge
• Audiometer: Under 14 $44.00 14 plus $55
• Drivers licence medicals: Age 16-17yrs $66.00, 18-64yrs $99.00. 65 plus $77.00
• Joint injections: $101.20
• Aclasta $165.00

Missed appointments

• 0-13 yrs: no charge
• 14-17 yrs: $45.00
• 18+ yrs: $45.00