GENERAL PRACTITIONER SERVICES
* All patients are entitled to have a chaperone with them for any appointment. Chaperones can be a family member, friend, or a member of staff. Please let reception know if you would like one of our staff to accompany you during your appointment.
FULL SKIN CHECKS
We offer full skin checks at our clinic. 30 minute appointments. For Registered patients $180.00. For Non Registered patients $200.00. If you have over 50 moles to be checked, please let reception know when booking your appointment. This will require extra time with the Doctor and will be an additional charge. Dr Piper is an Accredited Skin Cancer Doctor through the Skin Cancer College of Australasia (SCCA).
FREE CHILD CONSULTATIONS
FREE consultations for all our enrolled patients under 13 years.
GENERAL MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS
Our standard appointments are 15 minutes and are for one patient only. You will need to book for an extended consult if you have any of the following:
• Multiple health issues
• More than one person attending the consultation
• A smear and a consult for another issue
• Minor surgery
• Immigration medicals
• Insurance or other medicals
• Other issues that either you or the Doctor think may need extra time
Please check with our receptionists when you are booking to ensure enough time is allocated for your appointment. There is an additional charge for an extended consult.
Phone consultations are available on request. Please phone reception for more information.
NURSE PRACTITIONER SERVICES
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are highly skilled and experienced clinicians. To qualify as a Nurse Practitioners, you are required to complete a clinical master’s degree.
Nurse Practitioners are fully autonomous practitioners, meaning they don’t work under the direction of a GP.
They are an important member of the health care team and work alongside GPs, Practice Nurses, and Pharmacists.
The Nurse Practitioner can diagnose, order tests, prescribe medications and refer to specialists.
For more information on nurse practitioners visit https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/nursing/nurses-new-zealand/nurse-practitioners-new-zealand
HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PRACTITIONER
What is a health improvement practitioner (HIP)?
A health improvement practitioner is part of a general practice team. They work with patients to assess, maintain and improve their health and mental wellbeing by providing support and follow-up for issues related to mental health, addiction and long-term conditions.
What training does a health improvement practitioner have?
A HIP is a registered health professional who meet HPCA requirements; they receive specific training in mental health and addiction and use evidence - based interventions, that include but are not limited to:
FACT/ACT (focused acceptance and commitment therapy)
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Motivational interviewing
Problem solving
Mindfulness
Dialectical behavioral therapy
What can a health improvement practitioner help with?
A HIP can see people of all ages and at all stages of their lives and help with any type of issue related to behaviour change or mental wellbeing by providing support and follow-up for any physical, spiritual, social, or mental issues or conditions. Things often discussed include sleep problems, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, addictions concerns and improving social issues (parenting, relationships, loneliness, domestic violence).
Your GP may refer you to a HIP, or you can simply let us know that you want to schedule an appointment, and we will slot you into the next available space. A typical consultation with a HIP will take about 30 minutes and is usually focused on evidence-based brief interventions.
You don’t need to prepare anything in particular to see a HIP and there is no charge as this service is fully funded.
GENERAL NURSE CONSULTATIONS
Our Nurses are highly qualified and an important part of our practice. You can book to see the nurse for a variety of appointments.
• Childhood immunisations
• Adult immunisations
• Travel vaccines (except Yellow Fever)
• Flu vaccines
• Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk Assessments
• Asthma and COPD Assessments
• Blood pressure checks
• Health education for those patients with long term conditions
• Dressings
• Triaging you if you are unwell
ACC CONSULTATIONS
You can come in and see us for any ACC consultations. We are able to stitch wounds and apply dressings. If you have been to a hospital, or an accident and emergency clinic when you first injured yourself, we will need you to bring in your ACC details.
AFTER HOURS CARE
If you have an Emergency, Please Phone 111.
If you need urgent medical care after hours when we are closed, please go to your nearest Accident and Medical Clinic or go to ShoreCare located at 74 Taharoto Road, Takapuna. Ph: 09 486 7777. website www.shorecare.co.nz
North Shore Hospital Phone 09 486-8900/ 09 486 8930/ 0800 80 93 42.
IMMUNISATIONS AND VACCINATIONS
CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATIONS
These are done at various stages.
6 weeks (This will require an appointment with your Doctor for your baby’s six week check. Then an appointment with the nurse afterwards for the immunisations).
3 months
5 months
12 months
15 months
4 years
11 or 12 years
12 years
You will be required to wait for twenty minutes after any immunisation. These must be booked before 4pm for this reason.
Please note we are also able to immunise your child against chickenpox. However, this vaccines is not funded by the government so will incur a charge. Talk to your Doctor or Nurse about these immunisations. Please see national immunisation register for more information.
ADULT IMMUNISATIONS
It is recommended that adults have booster vaccines for Tetanus and Diptheria at ages 45 and 65 years and after any wound, if your vaccinations are not up to date. It is also recommended that a boostrix vaccine, which includes Tetanus/Diphtheria/Whooping cough should be given to those who think they will have contact with a new born or unimmunised children, ie Pregnant women, new parents or grandparents etc. Please read more about Pertussis (Whooping Cough). You will be required to wait for twenty minutes after any immunisation. Please see the Ministry of Health for more information.
FLU VACCINATIONS
These are available from the end of March/Beginning of April through to the end of July/August. These are free for patients over 65, or patients who have certain illnesses or chronic conditions. If you do not qualify for a free vaccination, you can still have a flu vaccine. Please book with one of our nurses. If you are unsure if you qualify for a free vaccination, please feel free to phone and ask one of our nurses.
TRAVEL VACCINES
Before you go traveling check out the risks to you and your family and discuss your travel plans with our team.
Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/, this is a useful site to assist you with the immunisations you will need.
SCREENING SERVICES
SCREENING - BREAST SCREENING
It is important that a breast examination and mammogram are carried out on a regular basis. The aim of breast cancer screening is to find very small cancers before a lump can be felt in the breast. Early treatment has the best chance of success. If you are aged 45-69yr you can register with Breast Screen Aotearoa for free 2 yearly mammograms. You can book an appointment with your Doctor for a breast examination and they will refer you for a mammogram. Alternatively you can contact Breast Screen Aotearoa on 0800 270 200, or you can txt 'breastscreen' to 4040. Please go to The National Screening Unit website for more information.
SCREENING - CERVICAL SMEARS
All women who have ever been sexually active should have regular cervical smear tests from the time they turn 25 until they turn 69. The best way to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer is to have regular cervical smear tests every three years. Please go to The National Screening Unit website for more information. You can book to have your smear with either your Doctor or a Nurse. If you choose to have your cervical smear done by one of our nurses, the consultation is cheaper. Gardisal vaccinations are also available as a preventative for HPV infection. However it is only funded for certain age groups, so there may be a charge. Read more information.
SCREENING - DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR CHECKS (CVD)
Patients with certain conditions are entitled to free Diabetes or CVD checks. These checks include healthy eating and lifestyle advice, blood tests and blood pressure checks. Please advise the receptionist if you are booking for these checks so you can be sent a blood test form prior to the appointment.
SCREENING WELL CHILD CHECK
These are done at 6 weeks prior to your child’s immunisations. This check is to make sure that your child is physically well and meeting developmental milestones.
MEDICALS & PROCEDURES
IMMIGRATION MEDICALS
Sunset Road Family Doctors is able to provide Immigration Medicals for New Zealand. You are only able to have your Immigration Medical completed by an INZ Panel Physician.
We offer a timely service, which includes your complete eMedical process completed in one convenient location. The fee we charge is inclusive of the following;
Photograph and administration time for processing eMedical
Blood tests
Nurse consultation
Doctor consultation
Reviewing results and submission to INZ
The chest xray is completed at Mercy Radiology, which is located at 5 Home Place, Rosedale, Auckland 0635 ( 3minute from from our clinic) . Their charge is separate to our practice. Please phone for their fee’s.
We have Chinese, Korean, Indian and European GP`s available.
If you do not speak clear English, you will need to book an interpreter you can pre-arrange an interpreter for your appointment here: https://interpret.org.nz/ (Please note you cannot have a friend or family member interpreted for you; it MUST be certified interpreter)
You will need to allow up to 4 days for processing your medical. As we need to wait to receive your blood test results and Xray. Please note that if there are abnormalities detected, this process can be delayed.
The cost of the eMedical does not include any treatment or followup`’s for abnormalities that may be found. If there are abnormalities found, you are able to see one of our other GP`s at the practice who have not completed your medical. You are unable to see the GP who completed your medical due to a conflict of interest, these requirements are set by INZ. The charge is $140.00.
Before your appointment, please ensure you do the following;
Bring your original passport (the eMedical is unable to be started without the original passport).
Eat breakfast and drink plenty of water
If possible, a list of your current medications ( This needs to be translated into English by a certified translator https://www.certifiedtranslation.co.nz/ ).
Organise an interpreter if you have limited English https://interpret.org.nz/ (Please note you cannot have a friend or family member interpreted for you; it MUST be certified interpreter)
We take pre-payment for all Immigration Medical bookings as we start your eMedical case before the appointment day. If you cancel your booking you will be charged a $30.00 administration fee to cover the time spent creating your eMedical case with Immigration.
Phone one of our lovely receptionists today to make an appointment for your eMedical.
MINOR SURGERY
Doctor Patti Piper performs minor surgical procedures. These include;
Mole removal
Ingrown toenail excision
Skin cancer surgery
Excision of cysts, warts and skin tags
IUD INSERTIONS FOR ENROLLED & CASUAL PATIENTS
Doctor Nicola Roberts performs IUD insertions. The process for this includes;
Pre insertion appointment with one of our GP`s. Standard consultation charge.
IUD insertion appointment $200 for enrolled $300 for casual patients.
6 week checkup with the nurse. Cost is included in insertion fee.
OTHER SERVICES
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
MANAGE MY HEALTH: You can request your repeat prescription through the Manage My Health patient portal. The portal can easily be accessed through an APP on your phone or through the Manage My Health website.
PHONE: You can phone and leave a message with our nurses for a repeat prescription. 48 hours’ notice must be given, otherwise an increased charge for a same day script will be incurred. Please be very clear when leaving your message, and leave the following information;
Clearly state your full name
Date of birth
Phone number
Medications required
EMAIL: You can now also email your prescription request directly to the nurse at nurse@sunsetrfd.co.nz.
Please DO NOT email requests for medical advice as we are unable to answer these through email.
Repeat prescriptions will only be done for medications previously prescribed by one of our doctors. Usually you will be able to get a repeat for every second prescription. If you want your prescription to be faxed to a pharmacy, please make sure to leave the address and fax number of the pharmacy in your message. This is to ensure that your prescription gets to the correct pharmacy. Please note, some medications you will not be able to get a repeat prescription for without seeing your doctor first.
If you leave a message for a prescription, the nurse will only contact you if there is an issue with the script, you won`t be notified when the script is ready to collect. It will be available to collect 48 hours after your request.
TEST RESULTS
No news is good news! We will inform you of any abnormal test results. If you are concerned please phone the nurse. If you have access to the patient portal you can access your test results through Manage My Health. We will contact you if the Doctor has any concerns, if you are on the patient portal and you can see your test results, this means the Doctor has seen the result and it has been actioned.