Your GP's surgery is far more than a place to go when you are feeling unwell and needing a quick cure. The doctor who sees you has gone through an extensive medical training to equip her or him to help children and adults of all ages with a range of physical and emotional difficulties. GPs are at the centre of the healthcare hub and will be aware of services and expertise that are available locally and further-a-field. GPs are also aware of the link that stress and unhappy life events have on physical health so know when to suggest a talking therapy rather than medication.

Primary care practices offer a range of services and are able to deal with most minor accident care. If they are not able to deal with an injury they will refer on to the appropriate service. Accident & Urgent Medical White Cross specialise in accident and urgent medical care, performing procedures such as plastering, suturing and wound management. X-Ray A radiology service (Ph: 09 443 4444) is available on site at White Cross Glenfield, providing a private radiology service. As a complementary service to White Cross, the radiologists are committed to the provision of a quality diagnostic radiology service responsive to the needs of our patients and referring practitioners. Workplace Injury Management & Recovery As an employer, you can direct your staff to White Cross to manage any injury. We are fully ACC accredited, so we can provide optimal patient care but also provide you with certainty of treatment and manage expectations of down time. We can also provide, relevant to your organisation, alternative duties assessment or, in the case of another practitioner's review, second assessment to assist in optimum patient management. Sports Care Programme If you belong to a Sports Club you qualify for the White Cross Sports Club Card. What does this mean for you? No charge for the doctor’s consultation for ACC when you present at any White Cross clinic with your personalised card (materials and hireage fees may apply). No appointment is necessary at any of the 9 Auckland White Cross clinics 24/7. Staff with specialist training in the diagnosis and management of acute injuries. Radiology and physiotherapy facilities available on site. Prompt access to specialist orthopaedic/hand surgeons within the group. If you or your club would like to become part of the White Cross Sports Club Programme, then call Linda Watson, on 0800 INJURED (0800 465 8733) or email injured@whitecross.co.nz for assistance.

All women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 who have ever had intimate skin-to-skin contact or been sexually active should have regular cervical screening. This includes women who have been immunised against HPV. Together, regular screening and HPV immunisation provide the best protection against cervical cancer. There are now more options for how you have cervical screening done: a simple vaginal swab test for HPV, either done yourself or with help from a healthcare professional a cervical sample taken by a healthcare professional (used to be known as a smear test). Talk with your healthcare provider to decide which option is best for you. If HPV is found, you may need to have a follow-up test or be referred directly for colposcopy. If you’ve not yet had HPV testing, you should be screened 3 years after your last test (or 1 year if immune deficient). Once you have had an HPV test, and providing HPV is not found, your next screening will be in 5 years (or 3 years if immune deficient). For more information: Cervical screening | Time to Screen - National Screening Unit

Each GP surgery or primary care practice will have its own procedure for repeat prescribing but the following rules are common to most, if not all. Patients who are well-known to the practice who have a stable condition like asthma, hypertension or diabetes could be allowed to get a repeat prescription for up to six months. Repeat prescriptions are never given to patients who are not known to the practice and there is probably a blanket ban on repeats for narcotics and other drugs that could be misused as doctors are expected to monitor these drugs carefully. For repeat prescriptions call 09 444 4244 and press 1 and provide the necessary details asked for. You will be notified if a consultation is required, otherwise your prescription will be available for collection after two working days from reception. Please Note: An additional surcharge applies for prescriptions that need to be faxed to a pharmacy of your choice.

Applicants for New Zealand visas may be required to provide medical and chest x-ray certificates to demonstrate an acceptable standard of health. Immigration New Zealand uses eMedical, an online platform for processing immigration health examinations. The examining doctor records the applicant’s health examination results in eMedical then electronically submits them to Immigration New Zealand where they are associated with the applicant’s visa application once it is submitted. Only doctors who have been approved by Immigration NZ are able to conduct the medical examinations. The immigration officer who assesses the applicant’s visa application will determine whether they have an acceptable standard of health. Visa applicants requiring an immigration medical examination must make an appointment with an eMedical enabled clinic on Immigration New Zealand’s approved list. If you are applying for a student visa, NZ work permit or NZ visitors permit, you will require a medical and x-ray certificate.To make a booking and find out more information contact us at White Cross Glenfield on 09 444 4244 or White Cross Whangarei on 09 470 1085. http://whitecross.co.nz/services/immigration-medical-services/

Sometimes your doctor needs to take a sample of blood or urine either to discover what is wrong with you or to measure something in your blood so that the right medication is given to you. These tests could be anything from blood sugar to a full blood count or a sample of tissue to test for cancer. While urine can generally be tested in the surgery, blood and other specimens are usually sent away for testing at a laboratory. Most results come back within 48 hours unless a very rare test is needed which has to go to a specialist lab further away when it might take a little longer.

Immunisation is the safest and most effective way to provide protection for you and your tamariki’s health. For more information view the NZ immunisation schedule. Childhood Immunisations - ONLY at Westcare White Cross New Lynn, White Cross Glenfield, White Cross Lunn Ave Influenza Vaccinations - ALL White Cross Clinics White Cross offers flu vaccination services during the “flu season” at all our clinics. Just drop in any time for your annual update. https://www.influenza.org.nz/ Workplace Vaccination Programmes - ONLY at Westcare White Cross New Lynn Influenza Vaccinations White Cross offers in-clinic flu vaccination services during the “flu season”. Prepaid vouchers can be supplied to your company enabling employees to be immunised at any White Cross clinic during the influenza programme season. Preventative Healthcare As part of Health and Safety awareness in the workplace, White Cross is able to offer immunisation for Hepatitis A, B, Tetanus, Polio and Typhoid for employees where there is a risk of exposure.