Previous News

Ear suctioning

We are now able to offer ear suctioning for removal of wax and debris from your ear. The procedure involves a microscope and small metal tube to gently remove material from the ear canal. It is less traumatic and safer than syringing. Suctioning is done by our doctors and will incur a usual consultation fee.

Measles outbreak

As of 1st August the Auckland Regional Public Health Service confirmed:
• 94 confirmed cases of measles in the Auckland region
• 8 contacts are in quarantine. A contact is a person who has had sufficient contact with the person with measles to be at risk of developing measles
• Five cases have now required hospitalisation during this outbreak
• Most cases have occurred in West Auckland with some spread to Central Auckland, North Shore, and Manukau
• Children over 6 months with asthma or other long term conditions

Measles is a serious and highly infectious disease that can make people very sick. In addition to the five cases that needed hospital care, many more have visited emergency departments and had short stays. Some people with lower immunity, including children too young for immunisation and people with cancer, have been treated in hospital after contact with people with measles to help lower their risk of developing measles.

The latest rise to 94 confirmed cases has included several cases associated with the Ranui Baptist Church, where a number of un-immunised people have developed measles. Almost all the cases in this outbreak have been in un-immunised people; it's testament to the effectiveness of the MMR vaccine protecting people who have received it.

For those people who do come into contact with a person infected with measles, if you have not been immunised or have not had the disease, then you may be advised to be quarantined; to stay at home and away from all public places, school or work for 14 days after coming into contact.

If you suspect you or your child is sick with measles, don’t wait; call us immediately.

Health and disease updates

• Depression
• Prostate testing and prostate cancer
Marc and Lois have produced some evidence-based information leaflets on these two common conditions. If you have any condition you would like information about, or you would like us to research, please let us know and we will endeavour to make this the topic of the next update.

Lois awarded Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs

Lois now has the new title of ‘FRNZCGP’. Fellowship of the Royal College is a higher qualification and a marker of excellence in being a GP. Many GPs in New Zealand do not have this qualification. The assessor commented: ‘It was a pleasure assessing Dr Paton who has a wonderful manner and relates very well to her patients. She is clearly committed to both the education and research fields of general practice.’ Lois says ‘I would like to thank all the patients who have been involved with this over the past few months. It’s not always easy to have an extra person in the room during your consultation with the doctor who knows you, and I am grateful to the patients who took part. Now I have completed Fellowship, I’m looking forward to completing the second year of my Masters this year. I think education keeps the mind sharp and ultimately this makes me a better doctor’.

Marc becomes an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer

Congratulations to Marc on being awarded the Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer post at Auckland University. We believe that it is essential for us to pass on our knowledge and skills to the next generation, and will be continuing to train the doctors of the future on a regular basis.

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccines

Did you know that chickenpox is preventable with a single vaccine for children over 9 months? Having the vaccine may prevent scarring, illness, and complications from chickenpox, and it even prevents shingles in later life. You can even have the vaccine after you have been exposed to someone else with chickenpox, and it is still very effective. We have chickenpox vaccines in stock now. Talk to our staff or click here for further information.

Jadelle now available

Marc and Lois are now able to offer Jadelle, a type of progesterone implant which is effective contraception for 5 years. Inserted in your arm, it is both discreet and easy. Click here to download more information.

Travel Advice

Are you going away this summer? Do you know whether you need vaccines? What about preventing malaria, food poisoning, and heat exhaustion? Could you be at risk of Hepatitis or Typhoid? Come and speak to our friendly medical team who can advise you what you need and when you need it. We have most vaccines in stock and can order any additional vaccines you may need. Plan in advance, you may need to start some vaccines up to 2 months before you go.

Marc and Lois are teaching and learning

This year, Marc and Lois are undertaking further postgraduate study at the University of Otago. They will be studying the ‘Teaching and Learning’ paper throughout the year and hope to gain valuable insight in to their own, and patient’s, learning styles and ways of educating. We will also be having student doctors throughout the year. Whilst we try to maximise their learning opportunities, we also understand that not every patient wants to be involved in this, so we always offer a choice. If you prefer not to have a student doctor involved in your care, this is not a problem, please let us know.

New podiatry service

SFMC are pleased to announce the commencement of a new podiatry service. Deborah is a qualified podiatrist and is able to provide a number of services relating to foot care. For more information on what is available, click here.

Summer skin checks

Are you worried about skin cancer? Would you know what to look for? The start of summer is an ideal time to get your skin checked for cancers such as melanoma, squamous cell and basal cell. We have a dermatoscope which passes polarized light over the skin surface and enables abnormalities to be seen more clearly. If you have any suspicious areas, we can treat them at the medical centre, and are able to perform liquid nitrogen treatment (freezing), punch biopsy, and complete removal (excision) under local anaesthetic. To see more information on skin cancer click here. To read more about skin cancer from the Cancer Foundation, click here.

Hepatitis C – are you at risk?

Hepatitis C affects about 45,000 New Zealanders, but only about a quarter of people know that they have it. To find out whether you have Hepatitis C, it’s just a simple blood test and could save your life and stop you from getting liver cancer. If you have ever experienced the following then you are at risk and should get tested:
• Had a blood transfusion in NZ before 1992, or overseas at any time
• Been jaundiced or had abnormal liver function
• Lived in or received health care in S.E. Asia, India, Middle East, or Eastern Europe
• Had a tattoo, especially if it was done abroad
• Been in prison
• Experimented with injecting drugs

For more information on Hepatitis C, click here.

Christmas opening hours

Mon 20th Dec – Thur 23rd Dec	8am-6pm
Fri 24th Dec	8am-4pm
Sat 25th Dec	Closed
Mon 27th Dec – Tues 28th Dec	Closed
Wed 29th Dec – Thur 30th Dec	8am-6pm
Fri 31st Dec	8am-4pm
Sat 1st Jan 2011	Closed
Mon 3rd Jan – Tues 4th Jan	9am-3pm
Wed 5th Jan – Fri 7th Jan	8am-6pm
Sat 8th Jan	9am-12pm
Mon 11th Jan	Normal opening hours

A new arrival

On 3rd October at 11.12 baby Elliott David Barnes was born to our nurse Brenda and huband Clint. He weighed 3695g (8lb 2oz). Congratulations to them! Brenda will be having a well-earned break and plans to come back to work some time after Easter.

SFMC turns one!

Silver Fern Medical Centre has now been open for one whole year! The medical centre opened its doors to patients on 3.8.09. Since then we have provided over 4000 medical consultations to many people from locals to visitors from Australia, and as far as France and Germany. We are proud of what we have achieved so far and have set some even more difficult goals for the next 12 months, including the commencement of an outreach clinic at the local Marae, and a sexual health service, which we are hoping to provide for free, pending a funding bid.

Flu vaccines

We have seen many cases of influenza this winter and are still providing FREE flu vaccines for people with certain medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes and other conditions. Get yours before the flu gets you! Even if you do not have any medical conditions, you can still get a flu vaccine for $25. This years flu vaccine protects against swine flu and 2 other strains of flu we commonly see in New Zealand. The flu vaccine is safe for children and is especially recommended for pregnant women, and anyone with any other long-term medical condition. These things can make you more susceptible to having severe problems from the flu. Click below links for more information on the flu vaccine:
Flu Vaccine in depth
Vaccinations in general

Dr Lois back from maternity leave

Lois is now back from maternity leave and is currently working on Thursday afternoons 1pm-6pm and Saturday mornings 9am-12pm. She will be gradually taking on more hours as her motherly commitments allow.

SFMC gains exemplary in
Cornerstone Accreditation

Silver Fern Medical Centre has spent the past 12 months preparing for Cornerstone accreditation with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is a mark of excellence and quality in medical practice. The assessment took place on 18th August 2010. We were given amazing feedback by the assessors, who could find nothing to criticize other than the lack of an observation mirror in the children’s play area. A big thanks goes to all the staff, who have worked very hard to get the practice up to scratch.

SFMC on Facebook and Twitter

Yes, we have entered the technological revolution and now have a facebook page and are linked in to twitter. You can find clinic info and links as well as some interesting discussions.

Is paracetamol linked to asthma?

A study published in the Lancet in September 2008, which has recently been in the news seems to say that there is a link between using paracetamol and the development of asthma. However, on deeper examination, the study has some fatal errors. Lois critically examines the study. Click here for an in-depth analysis. For the original study, click here.

Medical Students

We have now had 3 trainee doctors complete their general practice training at Silver Fern Medical Centre. A big thank you to all patients who were involved in their education, we are grateful for your contribution to their learning. We will be training more students in 2011.

Official Opening by John Key

Silver Fern Medical Centre was officially opened by the Prime Minister Hon. John Key this week on Thursday 25th March at 4pm.

Mr. Key attended the medical centre, along with Mayor Penny Webster, local Kaumatua from Rewiti Marae and representatives of Ngati Whatua, staff from Harbour Health and Waitemata District Health Board, Silver Fern staff, pharmacist Robbie Hannon, and Physio Mark Rainford, and the new addition to the team, baby Benjamin Paton.

John Retimana of Ngati Whatua officiated at the ceremony. It included a number of karakia (prayers) and waita (songs). Dr Marc Paton gave a speech regarding the vision of Silver Fern Medical Centre, remarking that ‘compassion is key,’ and that ‘relationships are central to what we do here, and this is something which cannot be measured’.

The Prime Minister affirmed our presence in the community, including one amusing anecdote about getting his prostate checked last year, remarking that ‘if you want to be that intimate with me doctor, I just have one question, do you vote National?’

Mr. Key unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

The Prime Minister was taken on a tour of the facilities, and was impressed that we had a defibrillator, remarking that he remembered waking up one morning to his son standing over him with an iron, shouting ‘all clear’ in an attempt to emulate the doctors on ER.

Silver Fern Staff chatted with Mr Key over a cup of tea and shared some personal stories.

Overall the day was a great success and a great time was had by all.

Free Mole Checks

We are pleased to offer a free mole-checking service for Summer 2010. We will check any lesion of concern using a dermoscope (skin surface microscope) and advice on future action. This applies for single moles only. For a full skin check a normal appointment is necessary.

Men’s Health Promotion

We recognise that men find it harder to seek help with health problems. We are offering a free one-off health check with one of our doctors. This will include screening for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression and discussion about prostate cancer, testicular cancer, erectile difficulties, hair loss and sexually transmitted diseases.

Physiotherapy Services Available

We are pleased to announce that Waimauku physiotherapy will be joining Silver Fern Medical Centre from January 2010.

Pharmacy Service Available

Robbie Hannon and Waimauku Village Pharmacy will be providing an in-house pharmacy service for our patients from early 2010. This means that any prescriptions can now be obtained on site rather than having to take the prescription elsewhere. The on-site pharmacist will also be offering a medicines-use-review (MUR) service.

As part of our new venture here, the pharmacist will be operating on the same computer system as the rest of the medical centre. As far as we are aware, this is a NEW ZEALAND FIRST and no other practices are yet operating in this way. This will mean better communication between the doctors and the pharmacist, and improved patient safety as both pharmacist and doctors are able to make entries in the medical notes. The pharmacy contains a patient privacy area whereby patients are able to have private conversations with our pharmacist without others being able to overhear. Patients will have the option to block pharmacist access to their notes should they wish to do so, but we anticipate that the improved level of service and patient satisfaction will mean that most people will not wish to opt out. Our pharmacists must abide by the same rules concerning confidentiality that the rest of the medical centre does, and is bound by the Privacy Act.

Measles Outbreak in Auckland

So far this year there have been more than 220 notified cases of measles this year in New Zealand, more than 18 times the number reported for all of 2008. For several months, general practices have been working to improve measles immunisation rates, following a sharp increase in measles cases in some parts of the country. North Shore and Waitakere have been particularly affected.

Young people aged 13 to 20 years are being urged to get vaccinated against measles if they currently have no protection against the disease. We are urging people to get vaccinated NOW before you come into contact with the virus. Measles has no cure and can have serious complications including brain damage.

Immunisation is FREE and is the best way to prevent the disease. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are needed to gain the best protection. Once fully immunised, 90 to 95 percent of people are protected from measles.

Since early August, health professionals have been contacting and immunising children aged 12 months to 12 years who have not received their first dose of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is routinely given at 15 months and four years of age.

Chief Advisor, Child and Youth Health, Dr Pat Tuohy, says ‘there is more than a 90 percent chance that an unimmunised person will catch measles if they come into contact with someone who is infected. Around one in 1000 people who get measles will die from the disease’.

With end-of-year exams fast-approaching, getting immunised can ensure that students don’t have to take time off study and lectures because they have caught or been exposed to someone with measles.

“Parents have been warned that unimmunised children, or those with no proven immunity to the disease, will be excluded from school for two weeks if a child in their class gets measles. This is because measles is highly infectious and can have serious complications. While by law we can’t exclude unimmunised tertiary students who come into contact with measles, we will be asking them to stay home to stop this disease from spreading.”

New Zealand has one of the lowest immunisation rates in the OECD. About 80 percent of children have had all the recommended immunisations by their second birthday, but to prevent outbreaks, the rate needs to be 95 percent. For more information talk to your doctor or call the Immunisation Advisory Centre on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863). You can go to Immunisation Advisory Centre or The Ministry of Health

Clinic Opening!

Having been many months in the planning stages, Silver Fern Medical Centre opened at dawn on 3.8.09. Te Kahui Iti Morehu and Waata Richards kindly came to perform a traditional blessing ceremony for the staff at Silver Fern Medical Centre.

Silver Fern Medical Centre staff were present, along with Jan and Olivia Liddell (aged 7), who officially opened the front door for the first time. Susan Turner (CEO, Harbour Health) and Rachel Lloyd, both members of the local Primary Health Organisation attended, and a great time was had by all.

Marc Paton made an eloquent speech regarding our vision for the clinic and the future health of the local population, and indicated to the Maori persons present that we are keen to engage with their community and work together to improve the health of the local population.

The official opening ceremony was followed by breakfast and coffee together as the sun rose. Doors were then opened to the first patients.