Welcome to The Practice Newsletter
Kia ora, and welcome to The Practice’s first monthly newsletter!
Our newsletter is a new way for patients to stay connected with The Practice and keep up to date with our latest news, updates and changes. We’ll also take the chance to share practical health advice, helpful information and news from our local community.
The newsletter will be sent by email each month. You’ll also be able to view current and previous editions on our website and social media pages.
August Health Focus: Daffodil Day 2026
Daffodil Day will be held on Friday 28 August 2026. It is a chance to come together in support of people affected by cancer and the whānau, friends and caregivers alongside them.
It is also a gentle reminder to look after your own hauora. Keep up to date with any screening you are eligible for, and contact The Practice if you notice a change in your health that is unusual for you or does not settle. Changes worth getting checked may include:
- an unexplained lump or swelling
- unusual bleeding
- cough, pain or change in your voice that does not settle
- unexplained weight loss or ongoing fatigue
- changes to a mole
- lasting changes in your bowel or bladder habits
Cancer can affect the wellbeing of the whole whānau, not only the person receiving treatment. Sue, our Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP), and Lee, our Health Coach, are available to support patients, family members, friends and caregivers with stress, emotional wellbeing and practical ways to cope.
Appointments with Sue and Lee are free and can be arranged through reception or discussed with your clinician.
You can show your tautoko this Daffodil Day by donating, volunteering, fundraising or purchasing a bunch of daffodils. Funds raised help the Cancer Society provide transport, accommodation, specialist support, prevention programmes and cancer research across Aotearoa.
Phone Triage and Same-Day Appointments
Most of our patients will already be familiar with our daily Phone Triage service, which is run by our dedicated nursing team. Phone Triage allows our nurses to respond to patient concerns, assess symptoms and help determine the most appropriate next step.
Each clinician keeps several acute, or “same-day,” appointment slots available each day. These appointments are reserved for patients who are unwell or have an urgent concern and are allocated through Phone Triage.
If you feel you need a same-day appointment, please let our reception team know when you call. They will ask you a few questions about your symptoms. This is an important part of making sure your request is prioritised correctly, and that your concerns are directed to the most appropriate clinician.
You will then be added to the Phone Triage list for a nurse to call you back. Please keep your phone nearby, switched on and loud enough to hear, so you do not miss the call.
If you have symptoms that may be contagious, or if our triage nurse believes you could pose an infection risk, your appointment may be booked in our Isolation Room. This helps protect other patients, as well as our reception and clinical teams.
The Isolation Room is accessed through the side door on the right-hand side of the building, beside the car park exit.
Cold or Flu – What’s the Difference?
The winter months bring plenty of bugs into our community, but how do you know when you can manage your symptoms at home and when you should ask for help?
Colds and flu can feel similar, but flu usually comes on more quickly and tends to make you feel much more unwell.
Common cold symptoms include:
- a runny or blocked nose
- sneezing
- a sore throat
- a mild cough
- mild tiredness or fatigue
It may be flu if you experience:
- a sudden fever or chills
- body aches
- a headache
- a dry cough
- intense tiredness, fatigue or weakness
- symptoms that stop you doing your usual activities
COVID-19 can cause similar symptoms too, so consider doing a RAT test if you are unwell.
Looking after yourself at home:
Most colds and mild cases of flu get better with rest and time. Try to:
- stay home and rest
- drink plenty of fluids
- have warm drinks to soothe a sore throat
- eat small, simple meals if your appetite is low
- use paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain or fever, if these are safe for you
- wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes
- wear a mask around others if you can
Helpful tips:
- Honey can help soothe a cough or sore throat. Do not give honey to children under 12 months.
- A steamy shower or saline nasal spray may help with a blocked nose.
- Check cold and flu medicine labels carefully, as some already contain paracetamol or other common NSAIDS.
- Antibiotics do not help colds or flu because these illnesses are caused by viruses.
When to call The Practice:
Please contact us if:
- you are getting worse instead of better after a few days
- your fever is not settling
- you are struggling to drink or are passing much less urine
- you start to improve, then suddenly become unwell again
- you are pregnant, immunocompromised or have a long-term health condition
- you are worried about yourself or someone in your care
Let reception know about your symptoms when you call. Our Phone Triage nurse can then help decide the best next step.
Please do not come into the main waiting room if you may be contagious unless our team has asked you to.
Getting urgent help:
Go to the ED or call 111 for severe difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, blue or purple lips, collapse, confusion, a seizure, or if someone is very difficult to wake.
NP Ena’s MyHealthpointe Journey
Over the past year, Nurse Practitioner Ena Jansen van Vuuren has lost an incredible 42kg through the My Healthpointe programme.
For Ena, the decision to begin was about much more than appearance; it was a chance to improve her health and feel more comfortable in everyday life. At the time, Ena had been living with high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, low energy and ongoing discomfort.
“I was absolutely miserable with myself and didn’t like how I felt,” she says.
Having considered weight-loss medication and even surgery, it ended up being the success of one of her own patients that inspired her to give My Healthpointe a try.
She was drawn to the programme’s focus on building healthy, sustainable habits rather than searching for a quick fix.
“It was about building a good foundation going forward.”
My Healthpointe is based around four main areas: eating, movement, mindset and supplementation. Ena made significant changes to the way she ate, began building regular walking into her routine and learned to approach setbacks differently.
“You don’t have to write off the whole day. You just make the next decision a healthy one.”
Ena also learned to look beyond the number on the scales and celebrate her “non-scale victories”. Since beginning her journey, she has reduced her blood pressure medication, stopped needing a CPAP machine for sleep apnoea, gained more energy, lost around 70 cm from her overall body measurements and worn her wedding rings again for the first time in more than 15 years.
“Sometimes the scales don’t move, but your measurements change, your clothes fit differently and your health improves.”
For anyone feeling nervous about beginning their own journey, Ena’s advice is simple:
“Borrow a bit of my belief. Weight loss is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it is not impossible.”
Ena is happy to speak with patients who would like support with weight management, whether through My Healthpointe or another approach that may better suit their needs.
Want to hear more about Ena’s journey? Read the full article here.
Upcoming Clinical Leave
To help you with planning ahead, please note that the following clinicians will be away during August 2026:
Doctor Eric Wegener
Eric will be on leave from Friday 14 August until Monday 28 September. During this time, we are pleased to welcome back our locum GP, Doctor Henry McKee, who will be covering Eric’s regular sessions.
Nurse Practitioner Ena Jansen Van Vuuren
Ena will be on leave from Thursday 13 August until Wednesday 19 August.
Nurse Carrie Wegener
Carrie will be on leave from Friday 14 August until Monday 7 September. During this time, nurses Catherine Flanagan and Georgie Scott will be available each day.
From Our Kitchen: August Recipe of the Month
‘Tis the season for sore throats and blocked noses! This month, why not blend up a batch of our Healthcare Assistant Anna’s soothing sore-throat remedy?
Honey, Lemon, Ginger and Turmeric Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup lemon juice
½ cup chopped or crushed ginger
4 tbsp honey
2 tsp ground turmeric
Pinch of black pepper
Method:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture through a sieve into a serving jug.
- Mix one part syrup with three parts boiling water in a mug. Stir*, (*adding more honey if needed!) and enjoy 😊
Tip: Making ahead of time? I like to pour some of the mixture into an ice-cube tray and freeze it. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply melt one or two cubes in a mug of boiled water.
