Services

Tōku Oranga, the Southern Access and Choice programme, offers FREE wellbeing support with 20–30-minute appointments to help you make decisions about your health and boost your wellbeing.

Tōku Oranga Health Improvement Practitioners, Health Coaches and Community Support Workers are based in many general practices in Otago and Southland. They help problem-solve issues, work through blocks and develop goals alongside you. You will leave your appointment with a plan. These appointments are at no charge to you!

Health Improvement Practitioners – Free appointments

Health Improvement Practitioners, or HIPS, are qualified and registered health professionals with experience in mental health. They offer 15 to 30-minute free appointments and are part of a general practice team. 

When to see a HIP?

You may want to think more positively, sleep better, or learn how to manage anxiety or stress. Or you may want to change habits that are negatively affecting you. HIPs are registered health professionals who can see anyone, including children, youth as well as their whānau, to develop practical skills to boost wellbeing. 

How to see a HIP?

HIPs sit within designated general practices. A GP, practice nurse or nurse practitioner may suggest meeting with a HIP in addition to your consultation. HIPs will always try to see you on the same day. Seeing a HIP is FREE. You can also self-refer to see a HIP. 

Health Coaches – Free appointments

Health Coaches are also based in general practices and work alongside Health Improvement Practitioners and the general practice teams. Like HIPs, they accept same-day, ‘warm handovers’ from general practice staff. 

They come from a range of health and wellbeing backgrounds, supporting people to take positive steps forward for improving their health.

When to see a Health Coach?

To develop confidence and skills to boost your wellbeing and reach personal goals. Health Coaches can help you gain self-management skills for conditions like diabetes, asthma, gout, high cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Community Support Workers – Free appointments

Community Support Workers, employed by community agencies, support people with anything that is non-clinical, but which has a large impact on your wellbeing and ability to make progress. The key word is support as they walk alongside people, supporting them to achieve their goals. 

When you might see a Community Support Worker?

Get practical support to navigate and engage with services in your community. Community support workers help navigate services, make connections, and provide assistance with housing and employment, Work and Income. Referrals to Support Workers come through your medical practice and support workers can see you in your home, community or medical practice.

Our standard consultation appointment with a doctor is based on fifteen minutes.

We ask patients to consider asking for extra time if they believe their problem may be difficult or is of a complex manner.

With the increasing complexity and choices in managing medical problems we ask that you have one problem per appointment. You may be required to return or make a telephone consultation for follow-up and discussion about your results and investigations.

We ask for your help and understanding in this matter so as we are able to see you at your arranged time.

There may be times when a remote consultation is appropriate. This may be by telephone,video or email/text. This type of consultation would only be initiated with your consent and understanding. You may wish to phone and ask to speak to a nurse or a doctor. It may more convenient for you to have followup of tests and/or investigations by phone. This can be discussed with your doctor or nurse at the time of your face to face consultation.

Home visits are provided to those who are in need of this service. Unless these are urgent they will be placed at the end of the morning or afternoon sessions.

For many of our patients, our nurses are the first point of contact for information and guidance about their health. Practice Nurses are available for appointments, they provide the following services:

Consultations will incur a fee.

• Well Health Promotion
• Heart Disease Risk Assessment
• Dietary and Lifestyle Modification
• Well Child Assessment and Immunisation
• Wound Care
• Quit Smoking Programmes
• Weight loss programmes
• Cervical Smears
• Health Screening reviews
• Diabetes review and initiation of insulin

• Removal of Lumps and Bumps
• Suspicious mole removal
• Liquid Nitrogen to warts and other skin lesions (Thursday only)
• Proctoscopy
• Joint Steroid injection
• Ingrown Toenail surgery
• IUD removal
• Pessary insertion/removal

• If phoning for a prescription Please do so before 11am.
• A prescription is issued at the Doctor’s discretion.
• Prescriptions will be available after 12pm the following day. (Please ensure you always have sufficient medication)