Kia Ora koutou
It’s pleasing to be able to report growing instances of co-operation between the three Auckland metro districts – Waitematā, Te Toka Tumai Auckland, and Counties Manukau, in ways that are benefitting patients.
Recently our colleagues at Te Toka Tumai Auckland were busy in their ED, and Counties Manukau and Waitematā were able to pick up the excess work, ensuring patients were seen in a far faster rate than they would have had they not been able to transfer.
We’re also co-operating in the expediting of things like radiology examinations. That means teams at our three Auckland sites can get to examine your x-rays more quickly, and Auckland and Waitemata were also able to help our colleagues in Northland with some of their work.
It’s time to talk about COVID-19 and the new vaccine rollout.
The new COVID-19 bivalent vaccine is now used for booster doses. From 1 April, anyone who has completed a primary vaccination course – for most people this is two doses - will be eligible to get another booster if you are:
- Aged 30 or over
- At higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
There’s lots more information which you can check out here.
Planning for the winter season is in full swing at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau. Our medical and nursing teams are anticipating a very busy time, with ailments like the flu starting to become more common.
At this time, we urge you to think about issues like hygiene – washing your hands and coughing into your elbow, and making plans to get a flu jab, which, like the COVID-19 booster, will be widely available from 1 April.
Flu vaccine information can be found here.
We’re also working hard to keep our Emergency Department as free as possible for genuinely urgent cases. We encourage you to make yourself aware of the many services available in the community for less serious matters – some good advice for finding the right care for your condition can be found here.
In the meantime, I wish you a safe and healthy autumn season.