Welcome to The Practice Newsletter
Kia ora, and welcome to The Practice’s October newsletter!
With World Mental Health Day happening on Saturday 10th October, we’re taking a moment to talk about mental health. We’ll also be sharing some practical tips for managing seasonal allergies as spring gets underway.
We hope you enjoy this month’s update!
A Quick Note About Walk-ins
We’ve seen an increase in patients coming into The Practice without an appointment in recent months. Our clinical team is always happy to help, especially when something is urgent, but always prefer if you could give us a call before your visit so we can arrange the right care for you.
Our Phone Triage nurses keep several same-day appointment slots available each day. Speaking with them prior helps our team decide how soon you need to be seen, and which clinician is best placed to help. If your symptoms are more concerning, they can also advise you if you need to go to ED.
Phone Triage is available during our opening hours of Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm by calling us on 03 577 1911. When you speak to reception, you can ask them to place you on the Phone Triage, or simply let them know if you feel you need to be seen urgently. They’ll likely ask for a brief description of your symptoms so they can prioritise your call.
We will continue to do our best to help patients who do walk in without an appointment, but there may be a wait if our clinicians are busy with booked patients.
Thank you for calling ahead when you can!
October Health Focus: World Mental Health Day 2026
World Mental Health Day is a reminder that mental health is part of everyone’s health. We all have difficult days, and talking about how we’re feeling can make it easier to reach out when we need support. There’s no need to wait until things feel overwhelming to ask for help.
To mark the day, we asked our team at The Practice a simple question: what cheers you up on a difficult day? Their answers are in the graphic below. We hope they make you smile, and perhaps give you an idea to try next time you need a lift…
If you’re finding things difficult, please speak with us. Appointments with our Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) and Health Coach are free for enrolled patients, and we’ll share more about how they can help elsewhere in this newsletter.
Free and Low-Cost Support You Can Access
- 1737 – Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor any time, 24 hours a day.
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354. Confidential support if you’re feeling overwhelmed or need someone to talk to.
- Healthline: 0800 611 116. Free health advice from nurses and other health professionals, available 24 hours a day.
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757. Talk with a trained counsellor about depression, anxiety or how you’re feeling.
- Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs): Free mental health support is available at all of Marlborough general practices. Please phone your GP practice to book an appointment.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): If you are employed, your workplace may provide access to confidential counselling services.
- ACC Sensitive Claims: If you have experienced a non-consensual sexual event, you may be eligible for funded therapy. Visit findsupport.co.nz to find a registered therapist.
- Aoake te Rā: If you have been bereaved by suicide, you can access six free support sessions. Visit aoaketera.org.nz for more information and to self-refer.
- Gumboot Friday: If you are 25 years of age or under, you can access two free counselling sessions. Visit gumbootfriday.org.nz.
- Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ): If the cost of counselling is a barrier, Work and Income may be able to help through the Disability Allowance. You do not need to be receiving a benefit to apply. If eligible, funding may include up to 10 counselling sessions or assistance with counselling costs. Speak with your GP, counsellor, or contact Work and Income to discuss your eligibility and how to apply.
- Just a Thought: Free, self-paced online courses covering stress, anxiety, depression and other challenges.
If you need urgent help or are in crisis, please go to your nearest emergency department. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111. You can also make an appointment to see one of our clinicians at The Practice. If cost is a barrier, please let us know – don’t let it stop you from reaching out for help.
Hope Walk × Mauri Ora Hikoi
On Saturday 17th October at 1pm, Hope Walk and Mauri Ora Hikoi are coming together for a free community event along the Taylor River. Organised with Maataa Waka, the afternoon will be a chance to remember loved ones lost to suicide, connect with others and have open conversations about hope and support.
There’ll be a community hīkoi, guest speakers, live music, free burgers and coffee, and activities for tamariki. Everyone is welcome, whether you’ve lost someone, want to show your support or would simply like to be part of a community that cares.
Some of our team will be joining the hīkoi to show our support, so if you’re coming on your own, you’re very welcome to walk with us. You can read more about the event on their Facebook event page.
HIP or Health Coach: What’s The Difference?
You may have seen both roles mentioned at The Practice and wondered who to book with. Our Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP), Alivia, and Health Coach, Lee, both offer practical support for your wellbeing, but they have slightly different focuses. With World Mental Health Day right around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to remind patients of the free support available to them here at The Practice.
Alivia, our Health Improvement Practitioner:
Alivia is a PMHI clinician who works alongside our clinical team. You can talk with her about anything affecting your health or wellbeing, including stress, anxiety, low mood, sleep issues or lifestyle changes. Her approach is practical and supportive, helping you find small, positive steps that feel manageable.
Lee, our Health Coach:
Lee can help you turn a health goal into a plan that works in everyday life. You might want to improve your nutrition, become more active, manage stress or build healthier habits. She’ll work with you on what matters to you and support you as you make progress.
There’s some overlap between the roles, and you don’t need to work out the perfect choice before calling. Tell our reception team what you’d like help with, or speak to your clinician at your next appointment, and we can guide you towards Alivia or Lee. Appointments with both our HIP and Health Coach are funded by Marlborough PHO, making them free for all patients enrolled at The Practice.
‘Tis the Sneeze-on: Managing Hay Fever in Springtime
While we’re all relieved for spring to finally be here, bringing with it some long-missed sunshine and warmer days, it also marks the beginning of hay fever season for those who suffer. Seasonal allergies can make it harder to enjoy the warmer weather, but there are ways to manage symptoms.
Hay fever, otherwise known as allergic rhinitis, is the body’s response to allergens such as pollen from grasses, trees and weeds. Common symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, itchy or swollen eyes, and tiredness.
If you struggle with seasonal allergies and would like to discuss what medication might help, you can book an appointment with any of our clinicians here at The Practice. We recommend getting advice early in the season, as taking the right medication regularly can help keep symptoms under control before they become too troublesome.
We asked Dr. Eric Wegener to give his five best tips for managing seasonal allergies over the spring and summer months.
Eric’s Tips for Combating Seasonal Allergies:
Know your sneeze triggers:
Does your nose start running after mowing the lawn, walking on a windy day or spending time around certain trees? Take note of when and where your symptoms flare up. You might spot a pattern that helps you limit your exposure and gives you something useful to discuss with a clinician if you’re unsure what’s setting you off.
Let your phone give you a heads-up:
The MetService Airborne Allergens forecast for Blenheim shows which types of pollen are likely to be around. You can also find it in the MetService app. Have a look before gardening, heading out for a walk or hanging washing outside. If pollen is troubling you, drying bedding indoors and wearing sunglasses outside are two small changes worth trying.
Take your medication daily:
Eric’s advice is to get ahead of hay fever rather than wait for a bad day. If you’ve been advised to use an antihistamine, nasal spray or allergy eye drops daily during the season, stick with that routine even when you feel well. Preventing symptoms is often easier than trying to settle them once they’ve flared up. Different products have different instructions, so ask your clinician or pharmacist what to take, when to start and how to use it correctly.
Don’t bring the pollen to bed:
After gardening or spending time outdoors, pollen can linger on your hair, skin and clothes. A shower and a change of clothes can help wash it away before it ends up on your pillow. On days when you’ve had a lot of exposure, washing your hair before bed may be especially helpful.
Give your nose a gentle rinse:
A saline (salt-water) nasal spray or rinse can help clear pollen and mucus from a blocked nose and are available at most pharmacies. If you also use a medicated nasal spray, use the saline rinse first. For rinses that need to be mixed with water, follow the instructions and use boiled, cooled water, never water straight from the tap.
What’s Floating Around Marlborough?
Different pollens appear at different times of year. Around Marlborough, tree pollen tends to arrive first, followed by grass pollen through spring and summer, then olive, privet and some weed pollens later on. The timing varies each year, so take a look at the guide below or explore Allergy New Zealand’s pollen information.
Upcoming Clinical Leave
To help you with planning ahead, please note that the following clinicians will be away during October 2026:
Nurse Practitioner Ena Jansen Van Vuuren
Ena will remain on leave until Wednesday 7 October.
From Our Kitchen: October Recipe of the Month
With World Mental Health Awareness Day coming up on 10th October, what’s better than something sweet and comforting? We asked Nurse Carrie to share one of her favourite sweet-treat recipes (and if you’ve ever tried Carrie’s baking, you’ll know that’s high praise!).
The Topp Twins’ Gingernut Biscuits
Ingredients:
125g butter
½ cup golden syrup
½ cup sugar
1½ cups (200g) flour,sifted 3 times
1 tsp ground ginger, sifted 3 times
½ tsp baking soda, sifted 3 times
Method:
- Preheat oven to 150°C
- Beat butter, golden syrup and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
- Take teaspoonfuls of mixture, roll into rounds and space out on a tray. Press flat with a wet finger.
- Bake for 20 minutes (be careful not to overcook as they burn easily!)
- Enjoy warm or cold with a good cuppa for maximum enjoyability.
