Pinnacle Health

18/11/2025

Did you know cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally? To bring attention to this, yesterday was World cervical cancer elimination day.

This year's theme, “Act now: eliminate cervical cancer," calls for bold, united action to build on existing progress and accelerate impact toward the 90-70-90 targets by 2030:
👩🏼 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15;
👩🏼 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again at 45;
👩🏼 90% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment.

At Pinnacle, we're making screening services free and more accessible to priority group women who are overdue for cervical screening. Check this link for more info: https://www.pinnaclepractices.co.nz/programmes/support-to-screening-cervical-waikato/

Elimination is within reach if we act now, together. It's completely possible to ensure every girl is protected through HPV vaccination and every woman has access to prevention, screening, and care.

14/11/2025

Kia ora, over the next few weeks we’re teaming up with Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust, Te Kōhao Health and Whānau Āwhina Plunket to offer free childhood immunisations in Kirikiriroa. It’s a simple way to help protect your tamariki and wider whānau.

If you’re unsure about immunisation and just want to come along to learn more, we’d love to see you there:

📍 79 Norton Road – Monday 18 November, 9am–3pm
📍 79 Norton Road – Monday 25 November, 9am–3pm
📍 12 Richmond Street – Friday 12 December, 9am–3pm (drop-in clinic)

You can pop into one of these clinics, or have a kōrero with your usual general practice team if you’re not sure what your child is due for.

Thank you to Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust for leading this collaborative clinic.

28/10/2025

Kia ora e te whānau! You may be seeing news about measles. We've put up some guide information on our website so you can see what matters for you and your whānau: https://www.pinnacle.co.nz/news/measles-alert

It is important to stay home if you feel unwell and call your GP or Healthine (0800 611 116) for advice.

Check that you (and your tamariki) are up to date with the MMR vaccine. If you’re unsure, your general practice can check and book you in. You can also check this link for more info about the MMR vaccine and how you can book: https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine

Stay safe and healthy!

22/10/2025

Our Pinnacle teams were honoured to take part in yesterday’s Whare Hauora ki Mangatoatoa Open Day at Tokanui. 🩺

Whānau from ngā hau e whā and the wider hapori came to connect, learn about local health services, share kōrero and kai.

The day began with a pōwhiri, followed by a presentation celebrating the early success and ongoing impact of the whare hauora, based on preliminary research findings shared by Dr Awanui Te Huia, research project lead.

As Dr Awanui highlighted, health outcomes for whānau accessing the Mangatoatoa Paa hauora clinic are improving; a reflection of what’s possible when barriers to care are removed and services are shaped by communities themselves.

While Pinnacle has provided some pūtea to help establish this marae-based clinic, its success lies with the strong partnerships between Mangatoatoa Marae, the clinics, health practitioners, and many others who came together to support this kaupapa. We’re proud to be walking alongside you all!

Ngaa mihi nui kia koutou to those who are part of the whare hauora kaupapa and the exhibitors: Mangatoatoa Paa, Raukawa Trust, Waikato-Tainui, Te Awamutu Medical Centre, Mahoe Med, Maniapoto Whānau Ora, Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust, Kainga Aroha Community Trust, Youth Intact, Heart Foundation NZ, Bowel Cancer New Zealand, New Zealand Blood Service, Your Way | Kia Roha, K'aute Pasifika Trust, Te Waka o Matariki, Ko Wai Au Trust, Hato Hone St John, and our very own screening teams, smoking cessation team, immunisation improvement, and primary mental health services👏

20/10/2025

E mihi ana ki a koe, Manukaroa. Your story as a māmā of four, and your kōrero about immunisation will resonate with so many whānau. Ngā mihi for sharing your journey - with honesty, aroha and courage.

01/10/2025

At Pinnacle Health, our commitment to health equity goes beyond words — it is backed by evidence. Our medical director, Dr Jo Scott-Jones, recently joined partners in academia to examine how primary care can close gaps and improve outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. 👩🏽‍⚕️
Supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, this research confirms what we see in practice:

🩺 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
🩺 𝗣𝗿𝗼-𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.
🩺 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗠ā𝗼𝗿𝗶, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 — 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀.

This work shows the value of strong partnerships between healthcare providers, researchers, and universities, and Pinnacle is proud to be actively engaging in such partnerships.

The research is published across several recent studies with The University of Waikato and academic partners:

🔗 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝟮 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 (Australian Journal of Rural Health, 2025) - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajr.70098

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘇𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝟮 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 (BMC Health Services Research, 2025) - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-025-12601-3

🔗 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝟮 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲: 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 (Journal of Primary Health Care, 2025) - https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/HC25025

We remain steadfast to our role in driving equitable and evidence-based healthcare, ensuring whānau across Aotearoa can access the right care at the right time wherever they are.

He waka eke noa — we’re all in this together.

Mauri ora.

Objective To examine the demographic differences between individuals with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) enrolled in rural and urban clinics and evaluate the quality of care they receive. Design Cross-sect...

24/09/2025

Tongariro e koro e
Te kei o Te Arawa
Taupō nui a Tia
Tūwharetoa tāngata
E Te Arikinui Tā Tumu Te Heuheu Tūkino VIII, takoto mārire mai.
He pou mō tō Iwi, he pou anō hoki mō te ao māori.
Nō reira e Te Ariki Tā Tumu Te Heuheu moe mai, moe mai, moe rā.

Tongariro, oh revered elder
The stern of Te Arawa waka
Taupō nui a Tia (the lake)
The people of Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Te Arikinui Tā Tumu Te Heuheu may you rest in peace.
A steadfast pillar for his people but equally a steadfast pillar for te ao māori.

Pinnacle Midlands Health would like to extend our condolences on the passing of Ngāti Tūwharetoa Te Arikinui Tā Tumu Te Heuheu VIII.

We would also like to extend our aroha to the whānau pani and the iwi of Tūwharetoa at this time of mourning.

Tūwharetoa, Maranga rā.

23/09/2025

🧑‍⚕️Yesterday (22 September) some of our Lakes team gathered in Taupō for the blessing of the new Great Lake Medical Centre. The new centre will be led by Dr Harry Faulls and Nurse Practitioner Louise Faulls, a husband-and-wife team. 🩺

It was a real privilege to come together with local marae and hapū, represented by Te Moananui Rameka, to mark this milestone for the practice, the Taupō community, and Pinnacle Health.

In photo (left to right): Kris Lyall, Dr Harry Faulls, Louise Faulls, Pen Blackmore, Heather Lang, Barb Purdie.

Read full story here: https://www.tauponews.co.nz/stories/new-doctors-surgery-for-taupo

16/09/2025

✨ This year marks 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)!

At Pinnacle, we’re proud to support this kaupapa as a primary health organisation with the largest Māori enrolled population in Aotearoa New Zealand. For us, it’s both a celebration of te reo Māori and a reminder for our kaimahi to weave more reo into everyday life.

To open the week, our Kirikiriroa kaimahi joined others in our building (Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Tonkin+Taylor, and Norris Ward McKinnon) with karakia, waiata, and kōrero about personal journeys in learning te reo. Across our sites, activities are planned throughout the week to encourage staff engagement and promote te reo Māori.

🤝 How are you and your teams celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in your workplaces and communities?

02/09/2025

🌏✨ Ka rawe! Pinnacle Health is proud to celebrate our clinical director, Dr Jo Scott-Jones who has been chosen to deliver the John McLeod Oration at the 2026 World Organization of Family Doctors - WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Wellington.

This international honour recognises those who have made an exceptional difference in rural communities. It's a fitting tribute for Dr Jo, a GP in Ōpōtiki for more than 30 years, a national leader, and an advocate for equity, culturally safe care, and training future rural health professionals.

"To be selected by the WONCA working party on rural practice is an acknowledgement of the contribution they feel I have made to developing health for all rural people. To follow in the footsteps of past orators and global rural health pioneers like Dr John McLeod is incredibly humbling," says Dr Jo.

It’s also the first time New Zealand will host the WONCA World Rural Health Conference — a chance to celebrate our role in rural health innovation and advocacy.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Dr Jo on this remarkable milestone!

Related links:
- https://www.ruralwonca2026.com/
- https://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/JohnMcLeodOration2026.aspx #:~:text=Renowned%20Rural%20Health%20Leader%20to,a%20significant%20acknowledgment%20of%20Dr.

30/08/2025

25/08/2025

👏 We’re proud to celebrate Dr Brendon Eade, who has been awarded the Community Service Medal by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP). 🌟

This national recognition highlights his tireless service to the community as a dedicated GP, and his leadership in transforming general practice from reactive care to proactive, planned consults through the Health Care Home model at Health Te Aroha.

Dr Brendon also served on the Pinnacle Board for 15 years, guiding our organisation with wisdom and heart before stepping down last year. His impact continues to inspire the next generation of GPs to make a difference in their communities.

We’re so proud of you, Dr Brendon!

Read: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/waikato-news/news/te-aroha-doctor-honoured-with-community-service-medal-from-royal-nz-college-of-gps/IJTNRLBF6ZG3NJ3ITIBYNAKLKE/

He received the service medal from the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners.