Ruatahi Medical Centre

04/12/2025

🎄 WORRIED ABOUT MONEY THIS CHRISTMAS? YOU’RE NOT ALONE 💙

Christmas can be an expensive and stressful time. If you’re worried about your finances, please remember it’s completely normal, and you’re not the only one feeling this way.

The Mental Health Foundation has put together a free guide with simple, practical tips to help ease financial stress during the silly season and beyond. It’s a supportive resource with ideas for planning ahead, looking after your wellbeing, and making Christmas more manageable.

Check it out here 👉 https://mentalhealth.org.nz/resources/resource/Wellbeing-tips-for-managing-financial-stress

Take care of yourself this season. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. 💛

www.ruatahimedical.nz

19/11/2025

With asbestos recently appearing in the news, WorkSafe is reminding tradies and businesses that there are no excuses for failing to protect workers and others from the risks of asbestos exposure.

Learn how to protect yourself and others at 👉 https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/asbestos/asbestos-awareness-week/

18/11/2025

☀️ HELLO SUNSHINE? HELLO SUNSCREEN! 🧴

Summer is on our doorstep. Here's a friendly reminder to keep your skin protected by:

🛡️ Using lots of sunscreen and reapplying it often.
Any parts of your body that you cannot cover need sunscreen. Rub sunscreen into clean, dry skin 20 minutes before going outside.

✅ Choosing the right sunscreen.
Always use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

🥄 Using enough sunscreen.
Aim for about one teaspoon for the major parts of your body, including each arm, each leg, your front and your back.

📆 Checking your sunscreen's expiry date.
Expired sunscreen will not protect you.

Here's to enjoying the sunshine safely and making the most of the warmer days ahead.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

14/11/2025

🧰 NUTS & BOLTS: SUPPORTING MEN’S HEALTH 💙

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men, but early diagnosis and treatment give you an excellent chance of coming out the other side A-OK.

Movember’s Nuts & Bolts tool covers the essentials, from understanding risk factors and checking your nuts to knowing what to do if something does not feel right.

It also includes practical tips to support your mental health, including ways to improve sleep, manage stress, stay active, and stay connected.

Take a few minutes today to look after yourself. It could make all the difference. Learn more here 👉 https://nutsandbolts.movember.com/

www.ruatahimedical.nz

Whether you’re facing testicular cancer, supporting someone through their journey or simply wishing to learn more, Nuts & Bolts has the resources you need.

13/11/2025

🌿 STAY SAFE WHEN GARDENING 🌿

Did you know that inhaling dust from potting mix or compost can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious lung infection that can be life-threatening?

Protect your lungs by following these simple steps:

👉 Use potting mix or compost outside
😷 Wear a well-fitting face mask (N95 or respirator is best)
🧤 Wear gloves when handling potting mix or compost
✂️ Open bags carefully with scissors, away from your face
💧 Dampen the mix first to reduce dust
🧼 Wash your hands thoroughly after gardening and before touching your face or removing your mask

Taking a few extra precautions can make all the difference. Stay safe while enjoying your garden this season. 🌸

www.ruatahimedical.nz

11/11/2025

👀 IS IT MEASLES OR CHICKENPOX? 🌡️

With measles spreading in New Zealand, it’s important to know the difference between measles and chickenpox. The two are sometimes mixed up, but they’re very different illnesses, and measles is more severe.

Here’s what to look for:

MEASLES

Starts with:

🔥 a high fever
👁️ red, itchy eyes
😮‍💨 a cough
🤧 and a runny nose

A rash follows, beginning on the face and spreading across the body.

CHICKENPOX

Starts with:

🩹 itchy blisters all over the body

It often comes with a mild to moderate fever and tiredness.

Both viruses can cause serious illness, and measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, or hearing loss.

Thankfully, both illnesses have vaccines. Check you’re up to date with your immunisations for the best protection.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

06/11/2025

👀 HOW TO: CHECK YOUR PAIR 🍐

Testicular cancer is the number one cancer in younger guys. The good news is that it's highly curable when caught early.

A simple monthly self-check can help you spot any changes early. While every nut is unique, here's how to check your pair:

🚿 STEAM
The best time to check is after a warm shower, as the heat relaxes and loosens things, making it easier to feel for any changes.

👌 ROLL
With your thumb and finger, roll one testicle to learn what's normal for you. Then, feel for any lumps, swelling, or changes in size or shape. Roll gently, there's no need to rush!

🔁 REPEAT
Do the same for the other side. It's that easy.

You can also get guidance on what's normal and what's not here 👉 https://nz.movember.com/are-my-testicles-normal

REMEMBER: If something feels wrong, don't wait. Talk to us. Make that appointment and play it safe.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

04/11/2025

🧬 NOT SURE IF YOU'RE PROTECTED AGAINST MEASLES? 🧬

With measles cases increasing, now is the perfect time to check your vaccination status and make sure you are protected. Here's how:

💻 USE THE HEALTH NZ TOOL
Get a quick idea of your immunisation status by using Health NZ's online decision pathway. Check here 👉 https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-immunity?decisionpathway=228%2C227%2C225%2C223

💉 LOG INTO MY HEALTH RECORD
View your immunisation records through My Health Record via your My Health Account. This tool is available for most people vaccinated after 2005.

👩🏽‍⚕️ ASK US
As your healthcare provider, we can check your records and let you know if you should get vaccinated.

✈️ BORN OVERSEAS?
If you grew up overseas, contact your previous doctor or healthcare clinics to see if they have your immunisation records.

If you cannot find your records or are unsure, it is safe for most people to get another dose of the MMR vaccine, and it is free for most people in New Zealand.

Protect yourself, your whānau, and our community by checking your vaccination status today. Together, we can help keep measles out.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

02/11/2025

🧔‍♂️ STAND UP FOR MEN'S HEALTH THIS MOVEMBER! 💙

Movember is here! And it's your chance to take part in something that matters.

Whether you're growing a moustache, getting active, or simply checking in with your mates, every action helps reduce preventable men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health challenges.

Want to know how you can get involved or support the cause? Visit 👉 https://nz.movember.com/ 👈 to learn more about the movement and how your actions can make a difference.

This month, we also encourage all men to book a check-up and prioritise their wellbeing. A quick visit to your healthcare provider can make a real difference.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

22/10/2025

🌟 HOW TO BRING MORE HOPE INTO YOUR LIFE 🌟

Hope is more than just a feeling. It is a powerful tool for your mental wellbeing.

Hopeful people are less likely to experience depression or anxiety, and a strong sense of hope can also build resilience, helping you cope when life gets tough.

The good news is that hope can grow. With small, positive actions, you can train your mind to focus on what is possible and give yourself things to look forward to.

👉 Swipe through for practical tips from the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand to help you build more hope day by day.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

20/10/2025

💻 TECHNICAL ISSUES RESOLVED ✅

The cause of our recent technical issues has been identified, and a fix has been implemented.

All systems are now back up and running normally, and our IT providers are monitoring everything closely to ensure stability.

Thank you for your patience and kindness while we worked through this. Your understanding always makes a big difference, and we’re glad everything is back on track.

www.ruatahimedical.nz

20/10/2025

🚨 WE’RE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL ISSUES 💻

We’re currently experiencing technical issues that are affecting some of our systems and processes.

Our IT providers are actively investigating the issue and working to restore services as quickly as possible. In the meantime, there may be some disruptions, delays, or temporary changes to how we do things.

We know this can be frustrating, and we truly appreciate your patience and kindness while we work through these challenges. Your support means a lot to our team.

We’ll share an update once everything is back to normal.

www.ruatahimedical.nz