Our Services

Rachel Kilday - Health Improvement Practitioner

Rachel is a registered nurse, specialising in mental health. She works as part of our Southside Health team providing support to people of all ages with any type of issue relating to behavioural change and mental well being.

Jan Powell - Health Coach

Jan works as part of the Southside Health practice team helping people gain the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to take an active part in their own health care motivating them to achieve their goals.

  • Zolendronate is given to help treat and increase bone density in people with osteoporosis. It is given via intravenous infusion over a period of 45 minutes every 12 to 18 months.  

    For more information about Aclasta infusions visit here

  • An advanced care plan involves thinking and talking about how you would like to be cared for in the future including your end of life care. 

    An advanced care plan can include things like:

    • Who your whānau members are.

    • Your pets and what might happen to them.

    • Your values.

    • The ways you would like those caring for you to look after you.

    • Your spiritual and emotional needs.

    • The type of funeral you would like.

    • Whether you wish to donate organs.

    • Where your important papers and documents are.

    • Whether you have an enduring power of attorney (EPOA) or advance directive

    For more information about Advanced Care Planning visit: https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/a/advance-care-planning/  or ask your GP or nurse for a copy of the booklet

  • Nurses can provide blood pressure checks and we also have blood pressure monitors that can be hired for home blood pressure monitoring

  • Blood tests can be done by our nursing team at the surgery but incur a fee.  Awanui labs offer free blood testing for most patients.  Patients can drop into a collection centre but there may be a wait while booked patients are seen.  To book an appointment call 03 359 0900 or book online at https://www.awanuilabs.co.nz/south/canterbury/

  • All women between 25 and 70 years old who have ever been sexually active should have regular cervical screening.

    For most women this is now a self swab done at the medical centre to test for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer. 

    For some women (including those who have a community services card) the cost to have an HPV screening self swab is FREE.

    For more information about cervical screening go to:

    https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/cervical-screening

     

  • A CVD or cardio vascular disease risk assessment, is a type of screening tool that measures your risk of heart disease.

    Heart disease is a type of cardio vascular disease, which is a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

  • Our nurses work closely with patients to provide support and education to assist people with diabetes management in collaboration with our Health Coach and practitioners including offering lifestyle advice around nutrition, activity and foot care.

  • Driving medicals, including those for heavy vehicles require a 15 minute appointment with the nurse followed by a 15 minute appointment with the GP.  Driving medicals are not funded so incur a higher fee than a normal consultation.

  • One of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart. this is done by placing small sticky patches at certain places on the chest, arms and legs. The electrodes from the ECG machine are then connected to patches which generate recordings of your heart beat

  • Flu vaccinations are given from around 1st April each year.  It is recommended that a yearly flu vaccine is given for everyone over 6 months old. The vaccine is free for ages 65 and over, pregnant women and for other people with certain health conditions.  

    For more information about the flu vaccine and who is eligible visit:

    https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/flu-vaccine

  • HPV(Human Papillomavirus) is a group of virus spread by skin to skin contact very common virus.  Some are sexually transmitted and can cause warts. An HPV infection can also go on to cause several types of cancer.  

    Gardasil is an HPV vaccine that immunises against a number of the HPV’s . It is now available FREE to both boys and girls aged 9-26 years.

    For more information about the HPV vaccine go to:

    https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/hpv-human-papillomavirus-vaccine

  • Scheduled childhood vaccinations are free. A reminder will be sent when a child’s vaccination becomes due and notification will be given if a new funded vaccination becomes available. 

    For more information about the National Immunisation Schedule visit:

    https://info.health.nz/immunisations/national-immunisation-schedule

  • Our nurses are able to give a variety of injections including B12, Zoladex, Depo and Sustanon

  • Most insurance medicals require a 30 minute appointment with the GP and some also require a nurse appointment.  It is helpful to let the receptionist know what your medical involves prior to your appointment so they can make the correct booking for you.

  • Intravenous antibiotic treatment can be given at the surgery for conditions such as cellulitis to avoid being admitted to hospital.  This may be funded under the acute demand service where appropriate.

  • IUD (Intrauterine devices) can be inserted and removed by our trained clinical team members.  The cost of the device is free to all women and many women will also be eligible to have the IUD inserted for free (including those that have a community services card).

    An initial appointment with a GP is needed for a discussion around contraception and a script for the device will be issued.   You will then need to book a longer appointment with one of our clinical team.

    For more information about IUDs visit:

    https://healthify.nz/medicines-a-z/i/intrauterine-devices-iud-for-contraception/

  • Our Heath Coach Jan is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to offer free lifestyle advice and can be booked with reception.

  • Liquid nitrogen is used to treat skin conditions such as warts and verrucas by freezing the area for a few seconds.  Some conditions require repeat treatments.

    A doctor’s appointment is required before the first treatment can be given.

  • Services include punch biopsies, toe nail resections, excision and drainage of cysts and abscesses, excision biopsies and skin lesion/cancer removals.

    These procedures require an initial appointment for assessment followed by a longer follow up appointment for the procedure and incur a higher fee than a standard visit. An estimate price can be given prior to the procedure.

  • A pregnancy test can be done by one of our nurses via a urine test or a blood test

  • The nurses are able to offer full STI screening and give advice. this involves taking a history and organising swabs, urine or blood tests

  • Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face, body or head.

    The shingles vaccine (Shingrix) is recommended for anyone aged 50 years or over and is free for the 12 months after your 65th birthday and for people aged over 18 years with specific immunity conditions. 

    Two doses of the vaccine are given 2 to 6 months apart.  

    If you are not 65 years old you can expect it to cost between $600 to $800 for both doses.

    For information about the shingles vaccine go to -https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/shingles-

  • Skin checks can be booked with one of our clinical team. If there are multiple areas that need checking it is best to book a double appointment with the GP. If a lesion needs further investigation your GP may recommend having a biopsy. This will be booked for an additional longer appointment at the surgery.

  • Our Health Coach Jan can offer initial advice and support around smoking cessation. A follow- up appointment can be then be made with a GP for cessation medication or for a referral to a Quit Coach who offer free smoking support to anyone in Canterbury

  • Non-scheduled or non funded vaccinations can be given by our nurses. Pre-payment is required for each vaccine prior to being ordered in.

  • Our nurses are highly trained in wound care management. We have a variety of products that can be used to achieve the best outcome for each individual. This service may be subsidised under ACC.

Our standard appointments are 15 minutes.

If you require a longer appointment please consider booking 30 minutes to enable your practitioner to fully discuss your issues with you  (a double appointment fee will be charged)

If you miss your appointment without notification or cancel your appointment with less than two hours notice you may be charged a full consultation fee

Specialised nurse advice and other detailed phone calls with the nurse will incur a $15 charge

We understand that your time is important and we try our best to manage our appointments so we can reduce patient waiting time however there are occasions when the doctor may run late due to emergencies.

Please feel free to call us prior to your appointment to check if your doctor is running to time.

Book an appointment