Our Services |
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Your GP’s surgery is far more than a place to go when you are feeling unwell and needing a quick cure. The doctor who sees you has gone through extensive medical training to equip them to help people of all ages with a range of physical and emotional difficulties. GPs are at the centre of the healthcare hub and will be aware of services and expertise that are available locally and further afield. GPs are also aware of the link that stress and unhappy life events have on physical health so know when to suggest a talking therapy rather than medication.

We are able to advise about all aspects of women’s health issues, including fertility, periods, contraception and menopause.

The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) test is now the primary screening test for cervical cancer. The new test looks for the virus (HPV) which is known to cause more than 95% of cervical cancers. The virus is very common and is spread by intimate skin to skin contact or sexual activity.

Most adults will have HPV at some time in their lives. Infections usually clear by themselves, but some types of the virus which persist can go on to cause cell changes that turn into cancer.

Cervical cancer is preventable if you have regular screening.

The test is available to all women between the ages of 25 and 69 years who have ever been sexually active, even if you have been immunised against HPV. The HPV test is simple, easy, less uncomfortable, and very reliable.

There are 2 options for you to the new HPV testing –
A vaginal swab which you can do yourself (self-test even at home) or have this done in the clinic by the nurse or
You can have a cervix smear test done by a clinic nurse.

Ask your nurse about your cervical screening options or the take-home test kit and instructions. In some cases, your screening test is free of charge.

Child Immunisations
Baby’s first vaccinations are at six weeks please book with the nurse.
Discuss with a Practice Nurse for all other childhood immunisations.

School Immunisation Program
If this is missed during the school program, we can administer the necessary vaccination/s. Or if parents prefer to bring a child into the practice for their immunisations, they can book with a nurse.

Vaccinations and Pregnancy
If you are planning to become pregnant it is highly recommended to check which vaccinations you may need before you become pregnant.
Whooping Cough vaccination is strongly recommended for all expecting parents and other adults such as grandparents who will be in close contact with a new baby. Newborns are at risk of serious complications if they contract whooping cough. Pregnant women can have a free whooping cough vaccine from sixteen weeks. This provides optimal protection for new babies.

The Flu/Influenza vaccine can also be given.

Adult Vaccinations
Please note not all adult vaccines are funded. Some incur a cost and are only free to particular age groups or medical conditions.

Immunisation is still relevant in adulthood as ongoing protection is required for preventable diseases. Even if vaccinations were given in childhood, adults may need booster doses to maintain immunity.

There are a range of adult vaccines available at our practice.

List of Vaccines
Whooping Cough (also known as Pertussis)
Influenza/Flu
Measles-Mumps-Rubella
Chickenpox (also known as Varicella)
Pneumococcal Disease
Tetanus
Diptheria
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

We offer the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (now including HPV Virus) for all eligible children.

Whooping Cough is funded for pregnant women from sixteen weeks and recommended (but not funded) for close family members i.e. partner, grandparents, and close family members.

Tetanus boosters are recommended at 45 and 65 years of age or early in the case of dirty wounds.

Travel Vaccinations – Child and Adult
These need to be arranged, contact our nurses for info.

Travel related Diseases we can help you avoid:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Meningococcal disease
Rabies
Japanese Encephalitis
Tetanus, Diptheria + Polio
Travellers Diarrhoea (Cholera)

This is a straightforward test which indicates how well your lungs are performing.

The test works by measuring the speed at which your lungs can be filled and then emptied of air by taking a full breath in and blowing out into a spirometer tube. It allows lung conditions which cause narrowing of the breathing tubes, such as asthma and COPD, to be monitored and treatment options planned.

Spirometry is available to enrolled patients.

All of our GPs offer skin cancer checks and perform minor surgery as required.

These surgical procedures are available – please ask your doctor if a procedure is suitable for you.

Bookings can be made with the reception team on referral from your doctor.

The doctor will advise you about the best treatment options for skin lesions and moles.

For benign (harmless) lesions and moles, treatment options include cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), biopsy or removal by excision.

For any suspicious or undetermined lesions or moles, a skin biopsy or excision is usually recommended, so that that a tissue sample can be taken and sent to a laboratory to check for the presence of skin cancer. Local anaesthetic is provided for skin excision procedures to minimise pain or discomfort.

Excision Biopsy:
An excision biopsy is when the entire skin lesion is removed and subsequently sent to the laboratory for testing. The intention of an excision biopsy is to remove all suspicious cells of a lesion in the single procedure.

You will need a consultation with a doctor prior to any surgical procedure. Fees will apply.

Cardiac Risk Assessments (as per the Ministry of Health Guidelines) are available at Picton Medical Centre. This test will determine your risk of cardiac event or stroke within the next 5 years. These free assessments are based on age and cultural background. You’ll receive an invitation for your health check at the appropriate time for you.

Also, Cardiac Rehabilitation is offered to people at risk of a cardiac event or post-cardiac events and surgery.

We can do an ECG onsite for assessment of chest pains and irregular heart beats

We do Diabetes Annual Reviews for people with an established diagnosis of Diabetes. This is free for patients enrolled at our practice between the ages of 15-79 years.

This annual review assesses you for ongoing diabetes-related complications and for cardiovascular risk. As part of the diabetes service, we also provide an Insulin Initiation service.

Family history and symptoms such as weight loss/gain are an indicator of diabetes.  Diabetes is largely avoidable; we actively work with our patients to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Primary care practices offer a range of services and are able to deal with most minor accident care. If we are not able to deal with an injury we will refer on to the appropriate service.

Prescriptions for regular medication can be requested via Manage My Health, in person, or by phone. To ensure your medication is still right for you a regular review with your Dr is needed. Please talk to the nurse if you would like more information about this.

We provide care for wounds, both acutely and ongoing, removal of stitches, liquid nitrogen treatment, and many other services for our patients.

If you have had minor surgery, removal of sutures will be included in your minor surgery fee. There is a small charge for removal of sutures either with ACC or normal removal of sutures.

Please inform the receptionist you are booking an appointment for a Drivers Licence Medical, this includes HT licence. This allows us to book you in with a nurse first for an eye test as well as with a GP.

Please allow 30 minutes for these appointments.

Aclasta (Zoledronic acid) is an effective treatment of osteoporosis and is now available as a once-yearly intravenous infusion in primary care.

The infusion is funded under PHO clinical programmes for patients who meet PHARMAC Special Authority criteria.

If you are concerned about your bone health please book to see one of our doctors for discussion. Our nurses are trained in giving IV infusion and we offer this service in our clinic

The Occupational Dive Medical is required for anyone working as a diver in an occupational capacity, by Worksafe New Zealand.

What is involved :
Please call to book an appointment through our reception team and allow at least one and a half hours for this. The annual questionnaire should be completed prior to your appointment ( it can be done in the waiting room).
This can be obtained from the receptionist or, if you prefer, directly downloaded from the Work Safe NZ website.

The Occupational Dive Medical consists of a 30 minute appointment with the doctor, followed by a 45 minute appointment with the nurse who will complete a spirometry (lung function test), and colour vision test.

Other tests may be required depending on the clinical indication.

You will need to bring photo identification (e.g. passport or drivers license). Please also bring a list of your medications if you are on any.

Please contact us for the cost of the medical.

Seafarers Medicals can take a few different appointments with internal and external providers.

Please aim to complete your seafarers medical several weeks before it expires.

Please contact us for cost.

Please allow 1 hour for initial consult.

Please bring photo ID with you.

Further information may be obtained at Maritime NZ.

Our nurses offer comprehensive smoking cessation support – if you are considering quitting give us a call and make an appointment to help get you started.