Christmas Newsletter

Dear Patients and Families,

As we approach the festive season, we wanted to share some important updates and information to help you plan ahead.

Christmas and New Year Hours

Our clinic will be closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from 5pm on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, reopening on Monday, 5th January 2026 at 8am.

We strongly encourage you to organise any repeat prescriptions or medical needs before 23rd December to ensure you have everything you need during the break. Please log in to Manage My Health or contact our reception team early to avoid delays.

Alternative care during the holiday period

If you need medical assistance while we're closed:

• Emergencies: Dial 111

• Virtual/online consultations: Book online with a doctor, nurse, or health coach at Care HQ

• After-hours medical advice: Call Healthline at 0800-611-116

• Urgent care clinics: Shorecare Urgent Care at Smales Farm or Greville Road

Welcome to our growing team

We're delighted to introduce Dr Tim Rigg and Dr Anna Chen, who have joined Milford Family Medical Centre. With our expanded team including Drs Rukshi Lewis and Meg Thomson, patients can now enjoy more appointment options, and we're welcoming new enrolments.

Dr Tim Rigg is a UK-trained GP with a passion for holistic, preventative healthcare. He's especially interested in patient-centred care that supports wellbeing through connection to self, community, and the natural world.

Dr Anna Chen grew up on Auckland's North Shore and trained locally as a GP. She has particular interests in child health and women's health, and is fluent in English and Mandarin (with Cantonese understanding). Anna is dedicated to providing compassionate care and building long-term relationships with her patients.

With these additions, Dr Chris Maud is transitioning to a locum role. Drs Lewis, Rigg, and Chen will be readily available for appointments. Please take advantage of our online booking through Manage My Health.

Our growing health coach services

We also wanted to highlight that we have a health coach on site to help with any lifestyle changes you may want to make in 2026 😉. Patrick Dodson can help with your goals to improve overall health by focusing on better sleep, more movement, healthy eating, or other health aims you may have. You can book a session with Patrick here.

Looking ahead to 2026: Prescription changes

You may have seen recent news about the Government's plan to introduce 12-month prescription options from February 2026. We want to clarify what this means for you.

While the policy allows for up to 12-month prescriptions, the decision will remain at the discretion of your prescribing doctor. Our responsibility is to ensure your health and safety, and that means prescribing in a way that matches your clinical needs.

Important: Even if your prescription is written for 12 months, your medicines must still be collected at the same pharmacy at the usual monthly or 3-monthly intervals set by Pharmac. This change does not affect controlled drugs, which continue to follow their standard prescribing and dispensing rules.

What to expect:

• For most people, prescriptions will continue to be provided at normal intervals

• Controlled drugs can only legally be prescribed monthly, so this will continue

• If your condition is stable, your medication is suitable for annual prescribing, and you've attended a yearly in-person review, we may be able to offer a 12-month prescription

• For situations involving multiple medications, regular monitoring requirements, or new medication changes, prescriptions will continue at normal intervals

Thank you for your understanding, and for working with us to keep you well.

Season's Greetings

From all of us at Milford Family Medical Centre, we wish you and your family a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season. We look forward to continuing to serve our Milford community in 2026.

Warm regards,

The Team at Milford Family Medical Centre