August 2025 Newsletter!
Dear All
A Bright Start to August
It’s great to be heading into August with lighter mornings, a touch more sunshine, and those classic Christchurch winter days—crisp frosts followed by bright, clear skies. As we enjoy this seasonal lift, it’s a good time to check in on your health and make sure you’re ready for the months ahead.
Stay Protected This Winter
While we’ve been fortunate to see fewer severe respiratory illnesses than in previous years, now is not the time to be complacent. Flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other respiratory viruses are still circulating, and we’ve seen some very unwell patients recently.
The Northern Hemisphere had a tough flu season, and we expect similar here—so it’s still worthwhile to get vaccinated. If you’re due for a COVID-19 booster, you can have it at the same time as your flu vaccine (one in each arm). Protect yourself and those around you—book your vaccines today.
Same-Day Appointments – We’re Here When You Need Us
Your health is our priority, and we always keep appointments available for urgent issues.
We believe in continuity of care—seeing the same doctor whenever possible leads to better health outcomes and just makes sense. This is why you may sometimes need to wait to see your regular doctor. However, if your need is urgent, your doctor holds “on-the-day” appointments for you.
When you call, one of our friendly nurses will talk with you first to understand what’s going on. This process is called triage—it simply means we find out how quickly you need to be seen and direct you to the right type of appointment.
If your issue can’t wait, you’ll be seen in one of our dedicated urgent clinics:
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Acute Clinic – Run daily by an assigned doctor and nurse for urgent health concerns.
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Infectious Clinic – For coughs, colds, and other potentially contagious illnesses. Held in a specially designed, negatively pressured room with direct carpark access to keep everyone safe.
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Rapid Clinic – For urgent, quick issues that simply can’t wait.
We’re here to provide the right care, at the right time, in the safest way possible.
New Patients – We’re Taking Enrolments!
We’re excited to welcome new patients and have plenty of capacity to care for you and your whānau. Our team includes 11 female doctors, 8 of whom are FRNZCGP -Specialist General Practitioners, so your care is supported by a wealth of experience and expertise.
Many of our doctors are currently accepting new patients. While wait times to see your own GP for non-urgent issues are typically just over a week, we also offer on-the-day appointments for acute, urgent, or infectious concerns.
If you know someone in Christchurch, Rolleston, or the Selwyn District is looking for a GP, please share this newsletter—we’d love to help. Enrolling is simple: visit www.villagehealth.co.nz, click “Enrol Now”, fill in the form, and we’ll take care of the rest—no need to contact your previous practice.
Your Health, Our Priority
Stay Safe Abroad with Our Expert Travel Medicine Clinic
Planning a trip overseas? Make sure your health is travel-ready with a visit to our
Travel Medicine Clinic at Village Health. Whether you're heading to the tropics, trekking
through remote regions, or attending business conferences abroad, we provide tailored advice,
vaccinations, and medications to protect your health while you travel.
Dr Nicole Anderson leads our service and is specially trained in travel medicine. As an
authorised Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, we’re equipped to help you meet entry requirements
for countries that need it. We offer protection against diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A/B,
Japanese encephalitis, and more.
Book a consultation today and travel with confidence: Book online or call us on (03) 389 8999.
Dr Nicole Anderson
Thanks for Reading – Stay Well This Winter!
As we enjoy these brighter winter days, thank you for being part of our community. We’re here to help keep you and your whānau well—whether it’s a quick visit, a routine check-up, or support when you need it most. Stay warm, take care, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Best Wishes from The Village Health Team
Where to read more:
Our website: Village Health Medical Centre Christchurch
Facebook: Village Health Canterbury
Instagram: village_health_canterbury