Kia ora koutou,

The inaugural Measles Immunisation Week (MIW) runs from 3–7 November 2025 — a great reminder to check your vaccination status and make sure you’re protected.

You can easily check your immunisation record in your patient portal:

• Go to the Immunisations tab
• Look for the vaccine coded as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) or Morbilli or Priorix
• Or check your Plunket/ Tamariki Ora book

• Or check your vaccination record anytime in My Health 👉 https://login.health.nz/

Who may need vaccination:

• Age 70 years or older: No MMR vaccination needed.
• Mid-50s to 60s: Very unlikely to need vaccination, though it can be considered if travelling to high-risk countries.
• Adults younger than mid-50s: You should have had two documented doses of MMR or have laboratory-confirmed measles.
• If you’re unsure or have only one dose recorded, you can receive MMR.
• Doses need to be given at least 4 weeks apart.

• Current Childhood Schedule: 1^st dose 12 months, 2^nd dose 15 months.

💉 Need a Vaccination?
If you need a vaccination, please phone to book a Nurse appointment.  You’ll be asked to wait for 20 minutes afterwards.  If you can’t make it to Travis MC, Unichem Prestons Pharmacy also offers the MMR vaccine and is open on weekends for your convenience.  For most people it is funded.

https://www.immune.org.nz/factsheets/measles

A friendly reminder: if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms, please wait in your car when you arrive. This helps keep our other patients safe.

🎄 Holiday Closure Notice

Our practice will be closed from midday on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, and will reopen on Monday, 5 January 2026.

Please note:

• No prescriptions will be written during this time.
• Please be organised and request any repeats well in advance.

👋 Staff Farewells

We are farewelling two valued team members:

• NP Sue Price will be leaving us at the end of November. Sue has been a valued member of our team since Dec 2020. Her patients and colleagues will miss her greatly, and we wish her all the best in her retirement.
• Nurse Nicky, after 15 years with our practice, is moving to help set up a new General Practice. Her dedication and care over the years have been truly appreciated, and we wish her every success in this next chapter of her career.

💊 Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as a burning sensation when peeing, frequent urges, or lower abdominal discomfort, if you are 16-65 years you may be able to get help directly from your local pharmacy. Many pharmacies can assess uncomplicated UTIs and provide treatment promptly, helping you feel better quickly. If symptoms persist or you have more than 3 infections in 6 months, make sure to follow up with your GP or nurse practitioner for further care.

🌟 Wellbeing Over the Holidays
The holiday season can be a joyful time, but it can also bring stress or feelings of overwhelm. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or just need support, remember you don’t have to cope alone. Reach out for help and access local mental health services anytime: https://mentalhealth.org.nz

🩺 Skin Checks
Regular skin checks are important for detecting changes early. Certain clinicians at our practice offer a 30-minute skin check appointment. If you’d like to book one, please call reception to arrange a time.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa! Wishing you and your whānau a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year. May this festive season bring joy, and wonderful moments with those you love.

Kia ora Koutou,

Spring has arrived, and with it comes fresh opportunities to take care of your health, wellbeing, and future planning.

👋 Welcome New Team Members

We’re delighted to introduce two new faces at Travis Medical Centre:

• Dr Lucy Gray – our new registrar, who has joined the team until the end of January 2026.
• Monique – our new receptionist, who came on board in August and is looking forward to meeting our patients and community.

✍️ Write Your Will – For Free This September

Simply put, for the month of September you can get your legal Will written at no cost to you.

CAP has partnered with Safewill, a leading online Will-writing platform. Their specialist team will help you write your Will – completely free – during September only. Learn more here.

In addition, Pier Law are offering half-price Wills throughout September – another great option if you prefer to work with a local law firm. Just mention that you are from Travis Medical Centre when you talk to them.

A Will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever create, and this month is the perfect opportunity to get it sorted.

💊 ADHD Diagnosis Update

From 2026, General Practitioners (GPs) in New Zealand will be able to formally diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

This will not be a service that Travis Medical Centre will be offering. Patients who would like an ADHD assessment will need to discuss this directly with their GP, who can advise on the appropriate pathway.

ADHD assessments are lengthy, complex, and require further specialist training for doctors. Providing this service would place significant pressure on our already limited appointment capacity, which we know is not always ideal. For this reason, Travis Medical Centre will not be offering ADHD assessments, as we must prioritise delivering timely access to the core medical services that support all of our 6,500+ enrolled patients.

We will keep you updated as more information becomes available on how this change will be rolled out.

🧸 Measles – What You Need to Know

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world – it spreads easily through coughing and sneezing and can remain in the air for up to an hour after an infected person has left the room.

The best protection is vaccination. In New Zealand, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is free for anyone born after 1 January 1969 who has not already had two doses.

If you have a baby aged 4 months or older and you are planning to travel overseas, they may be eligible for an extra early dose of the MMR vaccine before the routine immunisation schedule begins.

👉 If you’re unsure about your vaccination status, or your child’s, please contact the practice to check your records or book an appointment with the nurse.

👂 Ear Clinic – Wednesday Afternoons

Our ear suction clinic with Nurse Jo runs every Wednesday afternoon. If you’ve been struggling with blocked ears or wax build-up, book an appointment to get relief. The cost is $50 with a CSC or Gold Card, and $60 for patients aged 14 and over.

💊 Urgent Prescription Requests

If you need an urgent script, please order it before 1pm.

• Urgent prescriptions: $32
• Routine prescriptions: please allow 3 working days for your clinician to complete.

🚶‍♀️ Walking and Fitness Groups

Our Health Coach, Anita, leads a walking group every Thursday at the wetlands. All speeds and fitness levels are welcome – it’s a great way to get moving, connect with others, and enjoy the spring sunshine. Please call reception if you would like more information.

🏊‍♀️ Aquajogging & Swimming
Babs runs a free aqua jogging and swimming group every Friday at QEII Pool. To join, call or text 021 470 523.

🚶‍♀️ Walking with Babs
Babs also offers a regular walking group. Her next walk is on Wednesday 24th September, meeting at Scarborough Fare Café (147 Esplanade, clock tower end). The group will leave at 11:30–11:35am. To join, call or text Babs on 021 470 523.

🎧 Podcast Picks

Looking for some inspiration this month? We recommend tuning into Mel Robbins’ podcasts – packed with practical tools, motivation, and strategies to help you thrive.

For health and wellbeing, check out the ZOE Science & Nutrition Podcast, hosted by CEO Jonathan Wolf. Each episode features the world’s top scientists sharing the latest research on health, nutrition, and gut health in an accessible way — all designed to help you improve your weight and overall health

🎄 Christmas & New Year Hours

Our clinic will be closed from lunchtime Christmas Eve (24th December) and will reopen on Monday 5th January 2026.

👉 Please order any repeat prescriptions by 15th December to ensure you don’t run out over the break.

During this time, our friends at Riccarton Clinic will be covering our patients.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy spring,
Travis Medical Centre Team 🌿