Comprehensive Care

17/05/2023

22/12/2022

We wish everyone in our communities happy holidays and best wishes for the New Year. We hope you are able to take time to relax, recharge with friends and whanau.

20/12/2022

If you are travelling this summer, you could get COVID-19 while you are away from home. Make sure you're prepared if you need to test or isolate.

If you get cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms while away from home, take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) immediately. Do not wait until you get home.

If you test positive for COVID-19 while on holiday, you will either need to stay where you are, make plans to isolate elsewhere or to return directly to your home. You can only return home if you or someone you are travelling with can drive there. If you cannot drive home, it is likely you will need to stay where you are for your isolation period. You must not use public transport or do any long-distance road travel that requires an overnight stay or interisland travel.

If you are isolating while on holiday or at home, find detailed advice about managing your symptoms and what to do while you are self-isolating on the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Health Hub: https://covid19.health.nz/advice/

16/11/2022

From 18 November 2022, Māori and Pacific Peoples aged 40-49 will be eligible for a second booster to provide additional protection against serious illness from COVID-19.

This decision follows advice from the COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group (CV-TAG) that extending eligibility of second booster doses will assist in supporting higher vaccination rates among Māori and Pacific people, who are currently over-represented in COVID-19 hospitalisations in this age bracket.

Everyone is encouraged to stay up to date with their recommended vaccinations to protect from the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. You can find the second booster eligibility criteria here: https://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-boosters?

You can book all COVID-19 vaccinations via Book My Vaccine: https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/

13/11/2022

Today is World Diabetes Day – to mark the birth of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1922.

World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue.

Every year our Diabetes Self-Management team supports our community with education programmes where people can learn more about Type 2 diabetes and how to manage it. For more details visit our website https://comprehensivecare.co.nz/

Today is World Diabetes Day, and there is around 290,000 people in Aotearoa who live with diabetes. This is about 4.2% of the total population.

Over the last 10 years, there was an increase in the estimated rate of diabetes, from 3.6% in 2012 to 4.2% in 2021. Approximately 90% of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, and one in 12 people are predicted to have type 2 diabetes by 2040. Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented but it can be managed through a combination of medication, healthy food choices and exercise.

On average, Māori and Pacific people develop type-2 diabetes 10-20 years earlier than New Zealanders of European descent and they experience worse outcomes, including higher rates of limb amputation.


As part of Te Pae Tata – the Interim New Zealand Health plan, we will implement accessible and nationally-consistent clinical pathways for diabetes to integrate with primary and community care providers to create seamless pathways for whānau. We will also identify and support Māori and Pacific NGOs to work with whānau with chronic conditions to reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and to support self-management.

To learn more about prevention, and how to support New Zealanders living with diabetes go to the Diabetes NZ website: https://www.diabetes.org.nz/

You can read more about Te Pae Tata here: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/about-us/publications/te-pae-tata-interim-new-zealand-health-plan-2022/

13/11/2022

It’s Transgender Awareness Week 2022 – time to celebrate and empower our trans and non-binary patients, hoamahi, whānau and community ❤

01/11/2022

30/10/2022

Reminder: HPV vaccines are free for all Kiwis up to (and including) the age of 26 at all of our General Practices.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300722898/45000-young-kiwis-missed-out-on-hpv-vaccination-during-covid19-pandemic

Find your local GP here and get protected now:

https://comprehensivecare.co.nz/find-a-practice/

The Cancer Society says childhood HPV vaccination - protecting against six types of cancer - "plummeted" during the Covid-19 pandemic.

12/10/2022

There are nine new cases of Monkeypox (MPX) as at 9.15AM, 12 October.

All of the new cases have been identified as community transmissions where the disease has been transmitted within New Zealand as opposed to cases where the individuals were infected overseas.

Seven of the new cases are in Tāmaki Makaurau and two are in the Wellington region.

This brings the total to 20 confirmed cases in the current MPX outbreak (including both active and recovered).

An increase in cases over the last week was not unexpected and the growth in MPX case numbers in New Zealand reflects overseas trends.

While anyone can get MPX, overseas it has mostly impacted the MSM (men who have s*x with men) community and people who have s*x with MSM. The general risk of contracting MPX in New Zealand remains low.

Since reports of MPX emerged internationally, New Zealand health officials have provided advice to public health units, primary health organisations and s*xual health clinics to assist with identification of cases, and case and contact management.

We are also working closely with our community partners to ensure at risk communities have the information and resources they need to mitigate the risk of contracting MPX.

This includes guidelines and advice on potential symptoms and how to access testing. We are working hard to remove any barriers that will prevent people coming forward to be tested. This includes ensuring there are no financial barriers,

Testing for MPX is free and patients will not be charged any consultation fee at their GP, primary health provider or s*xual health clinic.

People with concerns about their health including possible exposure to MPX should contact their GP, nearest s*xual health clinic or Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Information about MPX, including symptoms and public health advice can be found here: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/monkeypox-mpx

11/10/2022

Today is World Arthritis Day and it's a condition that affects more than 700,000 people here in Aotearoa.

Arthritis is a term used for more than 140 conditions that affect the joints. Pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms.

Arthritis can involve almost any part of the body, most often the knee, hip, spine and other weight-bearing joints, but also smaller joints like fingers and toes. Some types of arthritis affect the skin and internal organs as well as joints.

People of all ages can get arthritis, including infants, although it is more common as we age. It is a chronic condition with no cure. It is possible to manage arthritis effectively.

You can learn more about arthritis here: www.arthritis.org.nz

03/10/2022

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection and treatment can save lives 🎀

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in New Zealand. It affects more Māori women than other women. Regular mammograms can save lives by finding breast cancer early, before it spreads.

Women aged between 45 and 69 years can get a free mammogram every 2 years. To learn more about breast cancer symptoms and more about mammograms, go to https://www.timetoscreen.nz/breast-screening/why-go/about-breast-cancer/