February 2026 Newsletter
Kia Ora!
Your Health, Our Priority
As schools return and routines settle back in, it’s a great time to think about your health for the year ahead. In this newsletter we share how we’re making it easier to access care when you need it, our strong commitment to continuity with your own GP, and the fact that we’re welcoming new enrolments. We also explain upcoming changes including 12-month prescribing where it’s clinically safe, the introduction of Wellness Reviews, and new ADHD care options for adults. There’s a lot happening at Village Health, and as always, it’s all focused on providing the right care, at the right time, for you and your whānau.
Same-Day Appointments – We’re Here When You Need Us
Your health is our priority, and we always keep appointments available for urgent issues.
Our goal is simple: to never turn anyone away.
Regular appointments with your own doctor are usually available within a few days, and we do everything we can to make sure you see the same person each time — because continuity of care saves lives. Every GP at Village Health keeps “on-the-day” appointments that aren’t shown online, so if your need is more urgent than what’s visible on the booking system, just give us a call.
When you ring, one of our friendly nurses will have a quick chat to understand what’s going on. This is called triage — it helps us decide how quickly you need to be seen and directs you to the right type of appointment:
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Acute Clinic – Daily doctor-and-nurse clinic for urgent health concerns.
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Infectious Clinic – For coughs, colds, and other contagious illnesses. Held in our specially designed negative-pressure room with direct car-park access to keep everyone safe.
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Rapid Clinic – For quick, urgent issues that simply can’t wait.
We’re here to provide the right care, at the right time, in the safest way possible.
Our aim is to NEVER TURN ANYONE AWAY
Village Health Rolleston - Opening after Easter!
Yes! We will be opening in Rolleston very soon. Although we don’t like to jinx things, we’re aiming for a start just after Easter. If you’re looking for a GP practice, enrol with us at Lincoln Road and you can be seen at either site. We have several amazing new doctors starting that we know you’ll love!
YES! We’re Taking New Enrolments!
We’re welcoming new patients and have plenty of capacity to care for you and your whānau.
Wait times to see your regular GP for non-urgent issues are typically up to a week, and we also keep on-the-day appointments for urgent or infectious issues. We have several GPs dedicated to overflow and our “Rapid Clinic” with a doctor is available for quick things that just can’t wait.
If you know someone in Christchurch, Rolleston, or the Selwyn District looking for a new GP, please share this newsletter!
It’s easy to enrol — just visit www.villagehealth.co.nz and click “Enrol Now”. Once you’ve completed the form, we take care of the rest — no need to contact your previous practice.
Continuity of Care: See Your Own Doctor Every Time
At Village Health, we believe strongly in continuity of care—seeing the same GP every time whenever possible. This consistent relationship builds trust, improves diagnosis and treatment, and leads to better health outcomes. In fact, international research shows that patients who see the same doctor over time have significantly lower hospitalisation rates and even reduced risk of death. A major 2018 study published in BMJ Open found that continuity with a primary care physician was associated with a 25% reduction in mortality. Whenever possible, we encourage you to book with your usual GP—because better care starts with someone who knows you.
ADHD Care at Village Health
From 1 February, GPs will be able to diagnose and initiate medication for adults with ADHD. At Village Health, one or two of our GPs will be stepping into this important mahi to support patients who have often faced long waits and fragmented care. Please note that private fees will apply, as this work is not government funded. We’re also planning to launch a dedicated private ADHD clinic in March — watch this space. In the meantime, we recommend reading the attached article for background and context on these changes and what they may mean for patients.
12 Month Prescribing
From 1 February, where it is clinically safe to do so, we’ll be able to offer 12-month prescriptions. This helps reduce unnecessary appointments and script fees while still ensuring your care remains safe and well monitored. Please book an appointment with your GP to see whether this is appropriate for you and to get this set up. Even when a prescription is written for 12 months, pharmacies will continue to dispense medications in 3-monthly lots. Please note that the usual monthly prescribing rules still apply to controlled drugs — these prescriptions must be issued monthly, with monthly collection from the pharmacy.
Wellness Reviews
As we move to offering longer prescriptions where it’s clinically safe to do so, there will naturally be fewer brief “check-ins” of your medical record to ensure blood tests, screening and recalls are up to date. That’s why we’re introducing Wellness Reviews. These dedicated appointments are with one of our nurses or our dietitian and allow us to take a thorough look at your overall health, make sure nothing is missed, and focus on prevention rather than reacting to problems. Most people will need a Wellness Review every 1–3 years depending on their stage of life and medical needs. You can book at any time, but we encourage booking around your birthday to help spread appointments across the year — we’ll also be recalling patients to make this easy.
Our team works hard to keep you healthy — from the reception desk to behind-the-scenes care coordination. If you’ve had a great experience with Village Health, please consider writing a Google review to help others find us.
As a small thank-you, the coffee’s on us next time you’re in!
From All of Us at Village Health
As always, thank you for trusting Village Health with your care. Our team is committed to providing safe, thoughtful, and accessible healthcare that supports you through every stage of life. If you have questions about anything in this newsletter or would like to book an appointment, please get in touch — we’re always happy to help. We look forward to caring for you and your whānau throughout 2026 and beyond.
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