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Don’t put off contacting your general practice (Health)

The Wānaka App

Aspiring Medical Centre

13 May 2020, 10:41 PM

Don’t put off contacting your general practice (Health)

Dr Stephen Graham, WellSouth Medical Director, says “it is really important as we head into winter that people don’t put off contacting their general practice. Now is the perfect time to check in with your practice if you haven’t for a while, especially if you have waited while we were in Level 4”.


We are backing Dr Graham’s call. We want locals and visitors to know that if they are concerned by any aspect of their health they should us on 03 443 0725.



Because of COVID-19 things are a bit different, so the consultation may be by phone or video. If, however, the doctor feels a person needs a consultation in person, they will organise this.

Our GPs say telephone consultations are working well, and that patients are especially enjoying the convenience of the phone over travelling in to the medical centre. We intend to keep offering phone and video consultations as New Zealand heads into Level 2 and beyond.


Aspiring Medical are well-supplied with flu vaccine and are now offering this to anyone over three years old. People wanting a flu jab should call ahead and book a time.


An important message for the Wanaka community is that anyone concerned about bothering their practice should not worry about this: their practice wants to hear from them. Similarly anyone worried about whether the practices are safe can be reassured that both have places to see patients that are completely separate from anyone who’s had COVID-19 or symptoms, and anyone worried about paying should mention this when they call and the practice will talk them through the options to make this easier.


It is also important at this time to maintain COVID-19 testing in the community to detect as early as possible any new cases. Dr Graham says “we want to encourage patients with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested - and we want to help that happen as safely as possible”.


There is no cost for anyone – including visitors and people not registered at a general practice – contacting a general practice with concerns about COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or a sore throat, and no cost to being tested.


Enrolled patients and visitors alike can also contact Wellsouth’s COVID-19 call centre by dialling 0800 VIRUS19 (0800 847 8719) to enquire about COVID-19 testing.