General information
Information for our family medical centre’s patients
General information
We welcome new patients at Kensington Health. If you would like to enrol with our family medical centre, please click here for all information. When visiting with us, you will be treated with integrity, honesty, respect, and trust. You can expect to receive expert care and advice that’s personalised to and focused on you. The health and wellbeing of our patients is our most important concern.
Emergencies
In an emergency (including shortness of breath or chest pain or sudden/ severe onset of pain, injuries, or bleeding). Please call 111 immediately for an ambulance.
New patient appointment
If it’s the first time we are meeting you, we would like to schedule a 30mins appointment to ensure we understand your history and needs before we feel comfortable prescribing – this can be booked on enrolment with reception.
Parking/disability parking
Available at the front of our practice in large public car park
Urgent Same-day Triage Service
For same day urgent appointments (not emergencies). Call to be added to our triage list, where a Nurse or Doctor will call you back and complete an assessment and arrange for you to come into clinic to be seen if unresolved over the phone.
Red Zone
Following the Covid outbreak, we have continued to utilize a separate area to see patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms (cough/colds/fevers). These consultations are provided in our dedicated cabins behind the clinic, and at the driveway entry behind Kensington Pharmacy. We are shortly opening a purpose built “red zone” in our new clinic space – we are the only clinic in Northland to provide dedicated space for our respiratory patients.
Out of Hours Service
Our phones are redirected to an out of hours provider called Whakarongorau Aotearoa (formally Homecare Medical NZ). Your call will be taken by a registered Nurse and relevant advice given.
Repeat Prescriptions
Please note that we require at least 2-business days’ notice for repeat prescriptions. We understand it can be a lot of work to book an appointment in clinic for a repeat prescription, if we have seen you in the last 6-12 months, it’s likely one of our doctors or Nurses can provide a repeat prescription over the phone. Urgent same day prescriptions may incur an additional $10 fee.
Test Results
We will only contact you following a blood test, x-ray etc. if there is something we need to talk to you about. However, you are welcome to call and discuss the results with a Practice Nurse or access your results via Manage My Health.
Recalls
To ensure you and your whānau are up to date with immunisations, smears, blood tests and mammograms etc. you will be entered into our automatic recall system. Reminders are routinely sent via text or phone call.
Updating Information
It is extremely important we keep your personal details up to date; especially contact phone numbers and change of address so please inform us of any changes.
Contact
If we need to contact you, we will try to send a text message, email, or a message via Manage My Health. Please tick the permission on your enrolment form if you are happy for us to contact you this way.
Interpreter Service
If you or your whānau require support to communicate with our team, we can access a national Telephone Interpreting Service which has trained interpreters in 70 languages. Local personal support is available through the Whangarei Migrant Centre. For more information about, or to access, any of these services please talk with our reception team.
Manage My Health
Gives you access to an online portal where you can connect with your clinic anytime and anywhere, and allows you to book appointments, check lab results and send enquiries directly to your health team etc. If you are interested in registering for this service, please ask at reception as you will require an activation code.
Expectation of Kensington Health patients
We understand that situations involving you or your loved one’s health can be frustrating or upsetting, however abuse towards staff is NOT acceptable at Kensington Health. It is important that we can provide a safe environment for our staff and patients. Any abusive, threatening, or racist behaviour may result in the termination of your enrolment at our practice.