Te Puke Medical Centre

14/11/2025

Free Breast Screening Extension

Te Whatu Ora has extended free breast screening to women aged 70-74, starting 1 October 2025, with full rollout by 2029.

What this means for you:

📌 Women turning 70 on or after 1 October 2025 can get free screening every two years until age 75.

📌 Women already aged 70-74 can have one final free screening before their 75th birthday.

14/11/2025

🥼 New Doctor Announcement 🥼

We are excited to welcome Dr Ashley Insley to our team! Dr Insley joined us this week and will be working three days a week at the practice. She is a Bay of Plenty local and has lived in Papamoa for the last 8 years but originally from Te Kaha. She has two little ones Freya who’s 5 and Dallas who’s 18mths and her partner is also called Ash and they own an electrical service company together. Her family likes to bike, boat, camp, and fish. She is looking forward to becoming part of the furniture!

14/11/2025

🎄 Christmas and New Year’s Hours 🎄

With the festive season just around the corner, we’d like to keep you informed of our holiday hours:

✨️ Monday, 22nd December – Wednesday, 24th December: We will be operating as usual with both booked appointments and a walk-in doctor available. However, please note that staffing will be lighter than usual, so we appreciate your patience.

✨️Thursday, 25th December – Friday, 26th December - we will be closed.

✨️Monday, 29th December – Wednesday, 31st December - we will be running limited services with a walk-in clinic only operating.

✨️Thursday, 1st January – Friday, 2nd January - we will be closed.

✨️Week beginning Monday, 5th January - we will continue running on limited services with a walk-in clinic only operating.

✨️From Monday, 12th January onward - we will return to our regular operating hours.

Important Reminder:

As the holidays approach, we encourage patients to submit any repeat prescription requests well in advance, as we will be operating with limited services during this time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

05/11/2025

**MEASLES**

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily through coughing and sneezing.

It can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, brain swelling, and long-term health issues, especially in young children and those with weakened immune systems.

You’re considered immune if:

•You’ve had measles before, or
•You’ve received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

If you were born before 1969, you're likely immune.

If you were born after 1969 and don’t have a record of two MMR doses or confirmed measles, you are eligible for two free MMR doses, given 4 weeks apart.

How to confirm immunity:

Check your immunisation records or talk to us if you’re unsure.

If you’re not immune, we recommend getting vaccinated.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and those around you from measles.

If you are immune and encounter someone who has measles, no quarantine or special precautions are necessary.

For more information:

https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine

02/11/2025

Measles update - Today we’re confirming one new case of measles in the Auckland region, bringing the total number of known cases nationally to 17.

This new case is linked to a previously identified overseas-acquired case. Locations of interest are being assessed and will be published on our website as they’re confirmed.

Health New Zealand continues to investigate the current unlinked cases and expects to share more information in the coming days.

Stay up to date: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles

31/10/2025

One more sleep until Diabetes Action Month!

www.diabetesactionmonth.org.nz

One more sleep until Diabetes Action Month | marama mahi mate huka!

Join us for our annual campaign that encourages action, education, awareness and advocacy for people in Aotearoa living with all types of diabetes and their whānau, as well as those at risk of diabetes.

Find out more including how you can get involved via the link in our bio, or visit:

www.diabetesactionmonth.org.nz

29/10/2025

Measles outbreak update 28 Oct

We are confirming one new measles case in Wellington, bringing the total to 11 cases nationwide.

📍 Locations of interest are being updated regularly - check them here: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand

😷 If you feel unwell or have measles symptoms, stay home and call Healthline for free (24/7) on 0800 611 116. Symptoms: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles -of-measles-25

💊 Vaccination is your best protection - two doses of the MMR vaccine protect 99% of people and is free for most in NZ.

Find a site near you: info.health.nz/immunisations/booking-a-vaccine

29/10/2025

Hi there, have you received a recent Cardiovascular risk invite and wondering what is this all about?

Here’s what it means: a Cardiovascular Risk Assessment is basically a Warrant of Fitness for your heart.
In a quick 15-minute appointment with one of our nurses we will:

🩸 Review your blood results
🥼 Check your blood pressure, height and weight
📐Record some other key health measures
📌 Identify your individual cardiovascular risk factors

This helps us calculate your risk of developing heart disease or a stroke in the future.
So, if an invite lands in your inbox, don’t stress! It’s not a recall notice, just a friendly reminder to book in with a nurse for a tune-up to ensure your heart is running smoothly.

We can’t check your headlights or tyres, but we can check your ticker.

17/10/2025

Ear Clinics

We are delighted to be offering our ear clinic again after a few months’ hiatus, and now run by one of our current nurses, Orna Chalmers. Our first day will be Thursday 30th October and will be run fortnightly between 08.30am and 12.30pm. The cost per appointment is $47.50 and a follow up appointment at $28.00. If you would like to book in for this, please contact our admin team on admin@tpmc.co.nz or phone 07 573 95 11. You can also book through our patient portal.

01/10/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and represents approximately a quarter of all cancers that occur in women every year.

With 1 in 6 cancer deaths in women worldwide, breast cancer is also the leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally.

Breast cancer is highly curable if detected in its early stages and adequate treatment is provided.

01/10/2025

With measles cases confirmed in Aotearoa New Zealand, it’s important we all stay alert. Symptoms include: high fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes, and followed by a rash.

📍 Locations of interest in Northland/Te Tai Tokerau, Queenstown, and Cromwell are listed here: http://spr.ly/6187A9Ap9. Please check if you or your whānau/family may have been exposed.

🤒 If you or your whānau feel unwell, stay home, and call your GP/hauora provider or Healthline 0800 611 116 for free advice.

✅ Anyone who hasn’t had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine (including tamariki/children) should get immunised. This is the best protection.

🛡️ Protect your whānau and your whakapapa. If you're not sure if you had two MMR doses, your GP or hauora provider can help you check.

👩🏽‍⚕️ Pop-up immunisation clinics are running in Northland/Te Tai Tokerau - find details here: http://spr.ly/6188A9Api

Clinics in other regions are listed here: info.health.nz/immunisations/immunisation-clinics

If you can’t find an immunisation clinic in your area, please contact your doctor, hauora or health provider, or call the Vaccination Helpline free on 0800 28 29 26 (8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday).

You can also book a vaccination appointment at: info.health.nz/bookavaccine

More info: http://spr.ly/6189A9Apc

29/09/2025

Do you have the universal blood type flowing through your body?
Due to higher demand for O- blood from hospitals lately, we'd love to see more O negative donors book in to donate blood.
If you're feeling well, are eligible and have a bit of spare time - book an appointment:
https://www.nzblood.co.nz/become-a-donor/where-to-donate/tauranga-donor-centre

🩸Not an O- donor? We welcome donors of all blood types to book in to save lives.
Next week in Tauranga, we still need 45 more blood appointments and 87 plasma appointments filled to help meet demand!
🩸Don't know your blood type? Donating blood or plasma is a great way to find out and make a difference at the same time!
🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️