Family Health
Smoking Cessation
We are proud to be part of a huge support network being established to help reduce the amount that people smoke, reduce the amount of people who do smoke, to help those who are ready to give up and of course to educate our younger community of the risks of ever starting smoking.
There are some huge benefits to giving up smoking, mostly health and financial, but so many that are small and go un noticed until people really give up. We can all offer you our time and support to sit down with you or your family member, to look at where to start and how to go about it. We are trained to educate and support you on this journey with the help of medication, counselling, regular contact with us and knowing that however small your steps are, they are all steps in the right direction.
Beat the smoking addiction. You have everything to gain by quitting smoking. It's one of the best decisions you can make for your health, you could save thousands of dollars every year, and it's a great thing to do for the well-being of your family and your friends.
There are some huge benefits to giving up smoking, mostly health and financial, but so many that are small and go un noticed until people really give up. We can all offer you our time and support to sit down with you or your family member, to look at where to start and how to go about it. We are trained to educate and support you on this journey with the help of medication, counselling, regular contact with us and knowing that however small your steps are, they are all steps in the right direction.
Beat the smoking addiction. You have everything to gain by quitting smoking. It's one of the best decisions you can make for your health, you could save thousands of dollars every year, and it's a great thing to do for the well-being of your family and your friends.
Cervical Smear Tests
The national standards for cervical screening state that all women who are between the ages of 20 and 70, should be aiming to have these done every 3 years in order to determine their risk and get early interception of cell changes on their cervix. For some you may require this annually initially, some who have had changes at various degrees in the past may also need them regularly, but most women will be 3 yearly.
Juliet, Tracy and Ange are all qualified to do this screening for you. If you want to come in and find out about it if it is your first one or if you are worried, then please come in to chat. It’s more important that you begin screening than not at all. We have lots of information available to give you.
Some of you will begin to receive letters and text message when your name has come up, to remind you that you are due. Please take the time to respond to and action this letter, as after three attempts in a year we will remove your name from the register, which will mean you increase your risks of going unchecked. So we look forward to all you ladies coming in at some stage. Find out on our news page if we are having a special clinic one day, it might be fun to get all the girls around you in to get updated.
Breast Screening
Having a mammogram every two years improves a woman's chances of surviving breast cancer. If you are under 50, screening reduces your chance of dying from breast cancer by about 20 per cent. If you are between 50 and 65, screening reduces your chance of dying from breast cancer by about 30 percent. For women aged 65-69, it is reduced by about 45 percent
Every woman over 45 will be on a list in our system to be reminded that you are due for mammogram, and when the Breastscreen bus is in the area next. For some of you this might be your first time, and there may be some who wish to get one done earlier due to family history.
Come in and talk to us about all of that and we can give you advice on the programme, referrals, and general education around breast care and self examinations.
Sexual Health
In this day and age it is so important to be aware of and maintain good sexual health. Our communities carry around several sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) that can often go unnoticed until the only symptom is sterility. We can help you with screening and education for all aspects of this, and for some of you, we offer two free sexual health related visits per year (conditions apply). This area of our expertise also covers contraception, emergency contraception, sexual violence,health promotion and early pregnancy care. We are here to help you all, all of the time. Keeping yourself safe is one of the most important things you can do.
Heart Health/CVRA
Cardiovascular Risk Assessments are our new tool to target all the over 45yr olds in our community so we can reach our goal of making sure 90% of our population at Kurow Medical Centre has had a healthy heart check and following that are being managed effectively and actively. It is a 15 minute appointment that tests blood pressure, height, weight and cholesterol bloods. We are currently contacting all of our over 45’s so if you hear from us, don’t delay, come in and get yours done.
Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that can last for weeks to months. Outbreaks of the disease occur every 3-5 years (currently one in Central Otago) because whooping cough protection decreases with time after having either the disease or immunisation. Whooping cough occurs worldwide, The bacteria can be transferred from person to person through close contact with droplets of saliva. A person with whooping cough is most likely to pass the infection on from the week before they start coughing to three weeks after they start coughing. Up to 90% of people who are not protected from the disease and living in the same house as a person with whooping cough will catch it. Without immunisation almost every child will catch whooping cough at some time. For further information visit the website below or phone: 0800466863
We are offering immunisation at the medical centre. Phone for an appointment.
YOUR RIGHTS
Visit the Health & Disability Commission site or see our brochures and posters at the clinic that outline your rights when receiving a health or disability service
Helpful Sites
