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Keep Well This Winter

Karen Hay —

Messages from Health New Zealand:

 Care at home 

  • Rest up at home if you’re sick. 

  • If you get sick this winter, you can access care and advice in different ways. Ask for advice early so you can work out what healthcare support you need to get better. 

  • In any critical or life-threatening emergency call 111 for an ambulance. 

Pharmacy 

  • Get health advice from your local pharmacist - some pharmacies also offer immunisation for influenza, whooping cough, MMR, and COVID-19. 

  • If you’re unwell, it is important to call first. They may be able to give you advice on the phone or organise a convenient and safe place, and time for you to be seen. 

  • When you arrive, please follow the pharmacy’s processes, and if you have respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or have a fever, we recommend you wear a mask, if it’s practical and safe for you to do so. 

  • Most pharmacies have a private meeting area. Tell your pharmacist if you want to discuss your health issues in private. 

Healthline 

  • You can call Healthline for free on 0800 611 116 for health advice and information about what to do next. Healthline nurses, paramedics and advisors are available anytime, day or night. 

  • Interpreters are available and the Healthline team can arrange to talk to you in your language. When your call is answered, say you’d like an interpreter and the language you’d like to speak in. 

  • Healthline can also call you back – if you don’t need help or advice straight away, or you’re busy, you can ask Healthline to call you by going to www.healthify.org.nz, and clicking “request a call back”, entering your details and a nurse or paramedic will call you. 

GP 

  • It is important to call your healthcare provider first if you are unwell. They may be able to give you advice on the phone or organise a convenient and safe place and time for you to be seen. 

  • When you arrive follow the practice’s processes and if you have respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing or have a fever, we recommend you wear a mask, if it’s practical and safe for you to do so. 

  • If you have a sick child with breathing difficulties, seek medical care from your doctor urgently and if it’s an emergency, call 111.