Recalls Those patients who are 'enrolled' with us, rather than casual patients who saw us once or twice because it was handy at the time, get entered in the computer for a number of Recall reminders for things like childhood immunisations, cervical smears, follow-up of previously abnormal tests, or other things that should be monitored.

This system is a service supposed to help you. If you want to make use of it, please make sure we have your up-to-date address and telephone number. Once we have recorded three attempts to contact you by letter and telephone, if you haven't responded the recall is deleted and then its over to you. It takes a significant amount of our time each week. Hopefully the nurse or doctor will remind you anyway when they see you next.   Some recall conditions include ...   Cervical smears The generally accepted time-frame for recall once you've had 2 normal smears a year apart, is 3 yearly. If you've had any abnormality at all, or inconclusive results, you may need annual recall. You can read more about this in Healthy Women NZ, or phone the National Cervical Screening Programme on 0800 729 729. Or see the Womens Health Action Trust for their version and excellent list of resources.

There exists a national cervical screening register also designed to be a recall tool. For reasons of privacy, some women opt off this register. Back     Childhood immunisations Childhood immunisation is recommended at 6 weeks, 3 and 5 months, 15 months, 5 and 11 years. No more than 2 jabs are given at each visit, although these are usually combination vaccines.

Most parents agonise over this topic, local reactions are common and almost always mild, and many myths still exist about the safety of immunisation. For example, for several years it has been thought by some that MMR was linked to autism and bowel disease; the doctor who raised this issue in the UK and the USA has now admitted he was wrong and faces legal action.

You can read more about immunisation in general and the NZ Schedule in particular at the NZ Immunisation Advisory Centre website, or phone 0800 466 863 for advice. Back     Mammograms In NZ, free mammograms are now publically funded every 2 years from age 45 years. If you have any abnormality at all, or inconclusive results, this should be thoroughly checked and sometimes a more frequent recall advised. There is an incomplete national register system under the auspices of BreastScreen Aotearoa of women who have had mammograms and this is supposed to act as a backup reminder.

You can read more about mammograms in Healthy Women NZ, or phone the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme on 0800 270 200 for advice. Or see the Womens Health Action Trust for their version and excellent list of resources.

Some other countries recommend screening from age 40 and annually from 50. Some private breast clinics advocate mammograms more frequently, or from an earlier age, but the true value and safety of this is not yet determined, and don't forget they have a vested interest in seeing you more often! Back     Miscellaneous If you had a blood test for whatever reason and an abnormality showed up, after discussion you may get a recall entered in the computer and a request sent out at some agreed time in the future for a follow-up test. Examples include monitoring cholesterol levels, kidney function, liver function, thyroid function, for any number of reasons concerned with maintaining your health.

People with diabetes are now eligible for a free annual check-up to make sure all the routine things like eye screening are done. Much of this is done by our nurse Helen; a recall letter is sent out once a year. Back     Well-man checks We believe men should have a "Well man check-up" periodically. Every year we work through a list of those who have turned 45 and 55 years and send them out invitations to come in, get grilled about all their bad habits, and have a good going-over.

Most who have this seem to feel more positive about themselves afterwards and tend to re-appear when next recalled. Two years is acceptable, sometimes an annual recall is advisable.  

 
cervical smears
childhood immunisations
mammograms
miscellaneous
well-man checks