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July 2025 Update

Kia ora whānau,



In this month's update, you'll find:

  • A warm welcome back to our GP Dr Deshika and a welcome to Dr Sunee Kim (visiting GP with an interest in cosmetic and regenerative medicine).
  • Awanui Labs Hobsonville pop up
  • How we can support men's health at our clinic
  • Fantastic free services to boost your overall wellbeing
  • Important information about Winter illnesses and appointment availability
  • Updates on measles protection for you and your family
  • Helpful reminders from our team

We have also slightly adjusted our opening hours and are now open from 7am on Mondays and Wednesdays. 



Our opening hours are:

Monday 7am - 6pm

Tuesday 8am - 5pm

Wednesday 7am - 6pm

Thursday 8am - 7pm

Friday 8am - 5pm



Ngā mihi nui,

The team at Hobsonville Family Doctors

Self-Test Kits for Influenza

There is currently high levels of influenza (flu) going around. If you have fevers and a cough, consider getting yourself a 4-in-1 test kit (which tests for influenza A, influenza B, RSV and COVID-19). These can be purchased from most pharmacies. 

Team Updates

We're absolutely delighted to welcome back Dr Deshika!



Dr Deshika Nissanka is an accomplished (MBBS) graduated Doctor with over four years of practice experience in various settings, including urban, high needs and major hospitals in NZ and overseas. Dr Nissanka has a strong background in providing comprehensive and patient-centred care, with expertise in managing chronic conditions, preventive medicine, and minor surgery. Dr Nissanka speaks fluent English and Singhalese. Deshika joined the team in January 2024 and works Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday.



We're thrilled to welcome onboard specialist GP Dr Sunee Kim. Dr Kim is in our specialist suite alternate Fridays. Dr Sunee is a New Zealand trained, experienced GP who has worked in various medical and surgical specialties during her training.



She has a special interest in skin conditions, dermoscopy, skin cancer surgery and cosmetic medicine. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Allergic Diseases from Western Sydney University, which complements her skills in managing allergic skin conditions in children and adults.



For more information, see https://drsunee.com/

Dr Sunee Kim
Prioritising Men's Health

We offer a range of services designed to help men stay on top of their health, from general check-ups to mental wellbeing support.

  • General Health Assessments: Your GP can monitor key indicators like blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and manage any chronic conditions.
  • Heart Health: Heart disease is a common concern. If you have a family history or want a regular check, schedule an appointment with your GP.
  • Prostate Health: We recommend discussing prostate tests with your GP if you're over 50, or younger if you have a family history. 
  • Testicular Health: If you notice any unusual lumps, swelling, or changes, please see your GP promptly.
  • Sexual Health: Our GPs are here to help with concerns like erectile dysfunction, libido changes, or STIs. 
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Boost Your Wellbeing: Free Support Available!

Did you know we have dedicated professionals who can help you with your overall wellbeing at no cost?



Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) - Morgan Ely

Morgan can provide practical strategies for a range of issues, including:

  • Stress, sleep, anxiety, and depression
  • Coping with physical health conditions
  • Relationship and parenting challenges
  • Life stage transitions
  • Alcohol or drug concerns

These appointments are free for eligible patients. Talk to your GP, nurse, or reception to book.



Health Coach (HC) – Macherie Cooper

Macherie supports patients (18+) to take charge of their health, focusing on:

  • Healthy eating and physical activity
  • Understanding common conditions like (pre-)diabetes and high blood pressure
  • Connecting you with community support

Macherie's sessions are also free for eligible patients. Speak to your GP, nurse, or reception to book.



Macherie is originally from the Waikato where she spent her younger years enjoying equestrian and summers at the beach. After the traditional Kiwi OE she returned to the North Shore 22 years ago.



After many years working in the corporate space Macherie chose to follow her passion and retrain as a Health Coach. Originally offering private Health Coaching, her interest in helping more people with a greater range of needs drew her to work in primary care.



When not supporting others to reach their health goals Macherie likes to be in the vegetable garden, reading, going to the gym and soaking up as much information on all things health.



Macherie works Tuesday and Wednesday.

Awanui Labs
Awanui Labs Hobsonville Pop-Up

Awanui Labs have opened a pop-up collection room in the building, which is a welcome addition to the Hobsonville area. They are located on Level 1 (in the B2B Ultrasound Clinic)124 Hobsonville Road. 



Open Hours

Monday-Friday: 0700 - 1530hrs
(closed from 1130 - 1200hrs)
CLOSED all public holidays



Phone

09-574 7399



Test Types available:

Standard Phlebotomy

Illumiscreen/NIPT

Sexual Health Testing



Additional information:

No bathroom available, urine samples must be collected at home. No glucose tolerance tests are available here either. 

Protect against Measles
Protect Against Measles

Health New Zealand warns that the risk of measles entering NZ is currently very high. Measles is serious and highly contagious. Immunisation is your best protection! The measles vaccine (MMR) is FREE in NZ and recommended for:

  • Babies 6-11 months travelling to outbreak countries (needs GP appointment prior)
  • Children 12 months to 15 years (part of National Immunisation Schedule)
  • Adults born between 1969 and 2004 who haven't been vaccinated
  • Find out if you need a measles vaccine by contacting our nurses



Important Reminders from Our Team

AI for Clinical Notes: To give you more of our time, our team may use an AI note-taking tool. It's secure, helps us focus on you, and you can always ask to see what it writes. AI is NOT used for diagnosis or clinical decisions. If you'd prefer we don't use it during your consultation, just let us know or email us at [email protected]



Your Appointment: To help us see everyone efficiently:

  • Standard appointments are 15 minutes and cover up to 2 topics.
  • If you have 3+ topics, please book a double appointment.
  • Please arrive 5 minutes early for admin.

Suite 2 Visiting Specialists

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We are pleased to announce additional visiting specialists to our suite.



Specialist GP Dr Sunee Kim is in our specialist suite alternate Friday's. Dr Sunee is a New Zealand trained, experienced GP who has worked in various medical and surgical specialties during her training.



Dr Chen Luo  is an experienced Skin Cancer Doctor with a Master's degree in Skin Cancer from the University of Queensland, where he also teaches as a Senior Lecturer. 

https://skincancercentre.co.nz. Chen is available on Wednesday and Friday.



We continue to offer these specialist services in our suite:



Dr Carl Freyer is a Gastroenterologist with Waitemata Gastroenterologists and Waitemata Endoscopy. He visits the clinic once per month. Our GPs can refer you to see him should you require his services.



Mr Jason Robertson is a General Surgeon specialising in Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Laparoscopic surgery. He visits the clinic once per month.



Mr Andrew Cho is an Otolaryngologist and Head and Neck Surgeon with a wealth of experience. He visits the clinic once per month. Our GPs can refer you to see him should you require his services.

Suite 2 - Hobsonville Family Doctors - YouTube
Winter Wellness

Flu Vaccinations Still Available! If you meet the eligibility criteria (including pregnant people, over 65s, and those with certain conditions), your flu vaccine is FREE. If not, you can still get it for a small fee. Call us on 09 416 8541 to book.



Winter is a busy season for us. We may have reduced availability over this time. Healthify has some great tips on how to prepare for Winter: 



5 ways to prepare for winter ills and chills



1. Have a clean out and throw away expired medicines



Keeping multiple pill bottles is confusing. Plus, the last thing you’ll want to do if you get sick is rummage through bottles and boxes of old medication. Have a clear out of expired and unwanted medicines. It is important that these are disposed of properly as they can be bad for the environment. Read more about medicines and the environment including how to return expired or unused medicines to your pharmacy.



2. Keep a few items on hand

It is handy to have a few items that you are most likely to need on hand. For example, pain and fever is one of the most common symptoms of a cold or the flu. Paracetamol is safe to use for pain or fever. Ibuprofen may be used but it is not suitable for many people with health conditions. Your pharmacist can tell you if ibuprofen is suitable for you.

There are other things it might be helpful to have, some of which you probably already have in your bathroom, pantry or garden.

3. Know what to do if you are unwell

If you have a long term health condition such as diabetes, asthma or COPD, check in advance with your healthcare provider if you need a sick day plan. This plan will outline any changes to your regular medicines that are needed, and when to contact your healthcare provider, if you are unwell. If you have a cold there are things you can do to manage the symptoms, eg, sore throat, blocked nose, fever. Read more about colds and when you might need to visit your doctor.

If you are having cold and flu type symptoms remember that it might be COVID-19. It is important that you get tested for it in case you need to isolate and protect your whānau and local community.

4. Talk to your pharmacist for advice

If you feel like you are coming down with something, even if it’s just a cough or cold, don’t wait until it gets worse. Act quickly – the sooner you get advice the better – pharmacists can help and are fully qualified to advise you on the best course of action. If you can’t get to see a pharmacist yourself, ask someone to go for you or call your local pharmacy for further information. Find your local Pharmacist here.

5. Dress up warmly

Make sure your and your whānau have warm clothes. Being cold can weaken your immune system and make it easier for you to get sick when you come into contact with cold and flu viruses. If you get damp and cold for any length of time you might develop chilblains – typically on your fingers, toes or ears. Chilblains are tender or itchy bumps on your skin which may be raised and look a blotchy red/purple colour. They can be very uncomfortable and bad ones might blister. Wearing warm, dry clothing can help to prevent them. Read more about chilblains.



Second hand shops are likely to stock hats, scarves and gloves. If you are a knitter you could make your own, if not, you may know somebody who is and you could swap some knitting for baking or a skill you have that they need.



  • Moisturiser to help with dry skin.
  • Aromatic chest rub to help ease congestion.
  • Tissues for runny noses.
  • Honey can help soothe a sore throat.
  • Fruit teas, or fresh lemons or mint, for making soothing warm drinks and staying hydrated.

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