Welcome to The Practice Newsletter
Kia ora, and welcome to The Practice’s September newsletter!
Spring is finally here, bringing some much-needed longer days and a little more sunshine.
We’re still seeing plenty of coughs, colds and flu-like illnesses around the community, so if you’re feeling unwell, please remember to wear a mask when visiting The Practice and let reception know about your symptoms when booking. If needed, we may ask you to use our Isolation Room entrance rather than the main waiting room to help protect other patients and our team.
This month, we’re talking about prostate health for Blue September, as well as sharing simple ways to care for your heart ahead of World Heart Day on 29 September.
We hope you enjoy this month’s update!
A Quick Note About Email
A reminder that our practice email, office@thepractice.org.nz, is for general enquiries, sending through documents and sharing information.
If you have a clinical question, such as something about medication, a referral or a new health concern, we ask that you make an appointment to speak with your provider in a phone or face-to-face consultation. That way, they can properly understand what is going on and give you the right advice.
You can book an appointment through the MyIndici portal, or call reception on 03 577 1911. Another option is to call and ask to be placed on Phone Triage. One of our nurses can then talk things through with you and let you know whether your concern can be managed remotely or whether you need an appointment.
Please also be aware that complex requests that require clinician time will incur a charge.
September Health Focus: Blue September
September marks Blue September; a chance to get people talking about prostate health and encourage the men in our lives to make their own health a priority.
Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in New Zealand men. It may not always cause obvious symptoms in its early stages, meaning that regular check-ups and a conversation with your clinician can be really important, particularly as you get older or if prostate cancer runs in your family.
Changes worth mentioning to your clinician include:
- Feeling the frequent or sudden need to urinate, especially at night;
- Finding it difficult to urinate (e.g. trouble starting or not being able to urinate when the feeling is there);
- Discomfort when urinating;
- Finding blood in urine or semen (this should always be checked);
- Pain in lower back, upper thighs or hips;
- Bone pain;
- Unexpected weight loss.
These symptoms can be caused by lots of things other than cancer, so try not to panic if you notice one. It is simply worth getting checked.
If you are unsure whether a PSA blood test or prostate check is right for you, have a chat with your clinician. They can talk through your age, family history and individual risk, and help you decide what is appropriate for you.
Health concerns can affect the wellbeing of the whole whānau, not only the person experiencing them. Alivia, our Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP), and Lee, our Health Coach, are available to support patients, partners, family members and caregivers with stress, emotional wellbeing and practical ways to cope. Appointments with Alivia and Lee are free and can be arranged through reception or discussed with your clinician.
You can read more about Blue September here, or visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand to learn more here.
Why Do We Ask What Your Appointment Is For?
When you book an appointment, our reception team will likely ask you to briefly let us know what you’d like to see your clinician about.
We know some health concerns can feel private, and you never need to give more detail than you’re comfortable with. However, even a short reason for your appointment can help us make sure you’re booked with the right person, for the right amount of time.
It can also help us to recognise when something sounds more urgent. In those cases, reception may place you on Phone Triage for a nurse to call you directly, or help arrange an acute same-day appointment if appropriate.
Some appointments also require extra time, a particular clinician, or may be better suited to one of our nurses or another member of the team.
This is especially helpful when booking through the MyIndici patient portal. Adding a short note about the reason for your appointment allows reception to check that the booking is appropriate and make any changes if needed.
A few words is usually plenty! For example:
- follow-up appointment
- skin check
- ongoing cough
- repeat prescription
- mental health
- multiple concerns
Our reception team treats your information confidentially and only asks for what is needed to help organise your care appropriately.
It’s a small step that can make a big difference in getting you to the right care, at the right time.
Love Your Heart: World Heart Day 2026
World Heart Day falls on 29 September, making it a good time to think about the small things that support your heart health every day.
Looking after your heart does not need to mean making huge changes all at once. Small, simple and consistent habits can make a real difference over time:
- move your body regularly (walking, gardening, cycling and swimming all count!)
- make sure you’re getting plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and other high-fibre foods
- cut back on highly processed foods, excess salt and sugary drinks
- avoid smoking and vaping
- keep alcohol within recommended limits
- aim for good-quality sleep
- make time for things that help you to manage stress
Your heart health is influenced by lots of things, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, smoking and family history. For some patients, we may recommend a Cardiovascular Risk Assessment (CVRA) to help build a clearer picture of their future heart and stroke risk.
If you’re due for a CVRA, we’ll contact you by email or SMS to let you know. It’s a quick, useful check-in that gives you the opportunity to better understand and look after your personal heart health.
For more ideas on looking after your heart and overall wellbeing, visit the Heart Foundation NZ website.
Anna’s Running Journey: One Step at a Time!
Towards the end of 2024, our Healthcare Assistant Anna decided that she wanted to challenge herself to lose some weight, improve fitness and generally move a bit more. Unsure where to start as a “fitness newbie”, she decided to keep it simple, jogging 2km a few times per week up and down her street.
By the start of 2025, Anna had increased her distance to 5km – something she wouldn’t have dreamed of being able to do a few months previously. It was then that she decided to set herself a bigger challenge, signing up for the Saint Clair Half Marathon as a New Year’s resolution.
Following a challenging five months of consistent training, race day finally rolled around on 10 May 2025. The race turned out to be one of the best parts of the whole journey, with incredible energy, plenty of encouragement from other runners and spectators, and some spectacular Marlborough scenery along the way.
Anna went on to complete her second half marathon, the Woodbourne Half Marathon in Renwick, that August. She’s now facing her biggest challenge to date: training for the Queenstown Marathon this November 2026!
During her running journey, Anna has noticed lots of small, positive changes to her health, including improved fitness, a lower resting heart rate, weight loss, and a greater awareness of how she fuels her body. The biggest surprise, though, has been how much running has helped her mentally.
“Running is almost like meditation to me. It’s funny to think that one of the most relaxing parts of my day now is putting on my trainers and headphones and getting out there, come rain or shine.”
If you’ve ever thought about giving running, jogging or walking a go, here are some of Anna’s top tips for getting started:
- Start Small: even 5-10 minutes counts.
- Slow Down: build your base at a comfortable, conversational pace.
- Warm Up and Strengthen: a little mobility and basic strength work goes a long way (your knees, hips and ankles will thank you, I promise!).
- Build Gradually: and give yourself proper recovery days in between.
- Enjoy Yourself: music, podcasts, audiobooks or a running buddy can make it much easier to stick with.
You don’t need to be the fastest, fittest or most experienced to get started. Sometimes, the first step really is just heading out the door and seeing what happens.
Wanting to start your running journey? Blenheim’s free weekly Parkrun is a fantastic volunteer-run 5km community event, held every Saturday at 8am from the corner of High and Symons Streets. You can walk, jog or run at your own pace, making it a great way to get moving, meet people and enjoy a bit of friendly local motivation. Read more about Parkrun here.
Upcoming Clinical Leave
To help you with planning ahead, please note that the following clinicians will be away during September 2026:
Doctor Eric Wegener
Eric will remain on leave until Monday 28 September. During this time, our locum GP, Doctor Henry McKee, will be covering Eric’s regular sessions.
Nurse Carrie Wegener
Carrie will remain on leave until Monday 7 September. During this time, nurses Catherine Flanagan and Georgie Scott will be available each day.
Nurse Catherine Flanagan
Catherine will be on leave from Thursday 10 September until Monday 28 September. During this time, nurses Carrie Wegener and Georgie Scott will be available each day.
From Our Kitchen: September Recipe of the Month
With World Heart Day coming up on 29 September, this month’s classic recipe comes from the Heart Foundation NZ.
Roast Chicken and Vegetable Salad (Serves 4)
Ingredients:
500g chicken thigh fillets, skin and bones removed
1 brown onion
2 cups pumpkin, peeled and seeded
1 capsicum
1 kūmara, washed
2tbsp olive oil
2tbsp lemon juice
1 cup salad leaves
Method:
- Heat oven to 225°C
- Cut chicken, onion, pumpkin, capsicum and kumara into bite sized pieces
- Spread out on a roasting dish and toss with oil
- Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until cooked through and browned. You will need to turn the pieces over once or twice during the cooking
- Remove from oven and mix through the lemon juice and salad leaves before serving
You can find this recipe, along with plenty more heart-healthy meal options, here.
