CEO Update Monday 13 July 2015
Do a friend (or neighbour) a favour... tell them about Canterbury Health System’s free GP visit for people enrolling for the first time If you’re not enrolled with a general practice team, you’re missing out. As soon as you enrol with a general practice, you immediately have a team of people helping you and your family stay well and healthy. By signing up with a practice you’ll have access to expert advice and check-ups; you’ll pay less for your health care; you’ll be in the system and have ongoing vaccination and health screening check reminders. Prescriptions will be cheaper (or free if you’re under 13 and enrolled with a general practice team!). Canterbury DHB is keen for all eligible people to enrol with a general practice team - your primary care team should be your first port of call for all health queries. We are offering a free GP visit to anyone in Canterbury who enrols with a general practice team, for the first time, before the end of August. If you enrol with a general practice, you pay less for health care, and have access to a wide range of coordinated health services. We believe that with the influx of new people into Canterbury for the rebuild, there are many people who are not enrolled.
Flu has hit Canterbury, but there’s still time to be immunised
They and their families are losing out on co-ordinated (and cheaper) health care. I encourage you to do a friend or neighbour a favour, and ask whether they have signed up with a general practice – if not direct them to the ‘find a family doctor’ page on CDHB’s website where they can download a voucher entitling them to a free visit to a GP when they’ve enrolled. You’ll also find location and contact details for Canterbury General Practices on this page cdhb.health.nz/findadoctor *The voucher is only for people who don’t have a regular general practice team, and are enrolling for the first time. They can enrol at any time before the end of August, and the voucher for a free consultation is valid until the end of the year. If you would like some printed ‘Connect with better health - Free GP visit’ vouchers sent to you please email communications@cdhb.health.nz
encourage our colleagues and members of the community to get their flu vaccination.
Influenza activity in Canterbury is on the increase with the numbers of patients attending general practices and hospital escalating last week. Read the article published in The Press this week. So it’s now more important than ever to be immunised. The staff vaccination programme is almost over, but there is still time. During this busy time, influenza outbreaks become a greater threat. It’s vital that we take steps to protect ourselves from the flu, so we can be there for our patients, colleagues and very importantly our own families. The healthcare community can make a huge impact in preventing the spread of flu. We have the potential to
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In this issue »» The writing’s on the wall for falls...page 5. »» New Chair for SI Strategic Planning & Integration Team...page 5.
»» Nominations sought for Ashburton SLA... page 6.
»» Public relations award for CDHB Comms team...page 7.
»» It’s not too late for Dry July...page 7.
»» Understanding Incontinence...page 9.
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