It has been a busy time since Christmas trying to ensure all the GP’s get some down time!  We have settled into the year with some new processes in place.  Firstly, our phone lines have changed so please listen carefully when you call.  Secondly, we are promoting the patient portal Manage My Health with a gusto this year as the Ministry roll out a plan to enable patients to have access to their own records.  Thirdly, we have had a few GP changes as some have moved on to new exciting projects, and other have joined the MHC family.  Please view the ‘our Doctors’ tab for updates.  Hope everyone is doing well with any New Year resolutions as we plan for a healthier 2016!

The build up to Christmas has been a busy time at MHC!  The Directors, Management and staff would like to wish all of our patients and their families a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

MHC will continue our normal hours over the season with urgent care clinics provided during the statutory holidays, and phone contact with a GP for acute care on Christmas day.

We look forward to continuing to provide for all you health care needs in 2016.

Many patients have been asking about ACC fees due to the changes ACC made to their fees structure earlier this year.  These changes were advertised widely, however no explanation on the impact to Primary care costs was discussed.  When an ACC appointment is claimed for, the funding comes from ACC as a part payment for the appointments.  For standard appointments a part payment is received from the Ministry of Health budget via the PHO (WellSouth).  This means that the remaining cost of the appointment still has to be charged for.  ACC co-payment fees for the patients at MHC are:

Adults ACC $37.50

Adults after hours ACC $57.50

Under 13’s normal hours $0

Under 13’s after hours (week) $20

Under 13’s after hours (weekend) $30

If you have any questions please call reception on 466-5011

It’s been a long cold, and illness infested winter this year.  MHC would like to say thank you for the patience of all those who struggled to get an appointment over the last few months as the seasonal illnesses hit and demand increased beyond expectation.

Dr Alex Lyudin will be moving to Wellington in November.  Alex took over from Dr Greaves on his retirment, so this will mean another change for many of these patients.  We will be sending out letters to the affected patients very soon.  Dr Kath Wilson will be joining us in December, Kath has worked as a registrar at MHC and so knows our patients well.  Dr Jonathan Woolrych will also be returning form his sabatical in the UK mid November, and I know his patients will be looking forward to seeing him again!!

The last few weeks we have seen an immense strain on MHC services, with the flu season hitting hard, along with whooping cough, chest infections, and general winter health issues.

Thank you for your patience if you have had to wait for appointments during this time.  With the changing season we should see the pressure start to ease very soon.

Each year MHC go through a fees review, and to enable us to continue to provide the standard of care you have come to expect, new fees will be introduced as from 1 September.  0-under13’s free, 13-17 years $13.50, 18+ $39.50.

MHC send out may thousands of bills each month to patients who chose not to pay on the day.  As of 1 October, sending out a bill will carry a billing fee charge of $2 to cover the costs associated with this.  A billing fee will not be added if the bill is paid on the day, or within the month the charge is created.

MHC has today been awarded Cornerstone Accreditation for the fourth time.  This is a four year assessment process which indicates the level of excellence in achievement of health services in the primary health care sector.  This process has been a long and intensive one and shows the level of commitment to excellence the staff at MHC have.

Dr John Greaves has sadly retired from MHC after more than 36 years of providing care to thousands of patients. We wish him well during this season and are sure he will be enjoying the extra time to play golf.

On a happier note we have 3 new GP’s, these are Dr Carol Atmore, Dr Jenny MaCDiarmid and Dr Alex Lyudin.

Dr Jenny MaCDiarmid has opened her register and is now accepting new patients.

We have recently welcomed Hearing Technology to MHC who are providing private appointments at the centre.  Appointments can be made by contacting them directly on 0800142152 or info@hearingtech.co.nz

Christmas is approaching fast, and at MHC we want to make sure all our patients are prepared for the season.  We ask that if you are due a renewal of medication during the Christmas period, that you plan for this, and make an appointment before the Christmas period to ensure you do not run out of medication.  During the season we will have a number of GP’s on leave and really need to ensure that appointments are kept for unwell patients during the Christmas and New Year week.  MHC wishes all its patients a Merry Christmas and a Happy, safe and Health New Year.  We look forward to providing care to you all in 2015.