Reflecting on a year of impact: EBPHA Annual Report 2024
We are delighted to release our 2023/2024 Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance Annual Report. A comprehensive reflection of the work being done to improve the health and well-being of tamariki and rangatahi across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. This year’s report is a...
Why do GPs charge different amounts?
This article has been repurposed from RNZ. The complex way that the government subsidises our health care has a massive influence on GP appointment costs. Clinics are also businesses so competition and running costs - rent, salaries, power bills, etc - are also...
Eastern Bay Hauora & Health Workforce Development Fund is open now
Eastern Bay Hauora & Health Workforce Development Fund Now Open We are pleased to announce the opening of the Eastern Bay Hauora & Health Workforce Development Fund. This fund is designed to support and strengthen Hauora, primary and community care workforce...
Visit from Regional Commissioner Health NZ
Great to have had Nicola Ehau - Regional Commissioner, and Rawinia Mariner, Group Manager – Localities from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora visit Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance last week. We had a productive Q&A session with our team, gaining valuable...
Mihi Whakatau – welcome with Poutiri
On Monday a contingent of the EBPHA management team visited the Poutiri Wellness Centre for a mihi whakatau. It was an opportunity for the team to meet one another, reconnect, and have a tour of the centre. We look forward to building on this relationship in the...
Poutiri Trust Joins Eastern Bay of Plenty Primary Health Alliance
Eastern Bay of Plenty Primary Health Alliance (EBPHA) is excited to announce Poutiri Wellness Centre joining the Alliance effective October 1, 2024. This partnership will strengthen the Alliance’s ability to provide comprehensive and accessible healthcare services to...
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual campaign that helps Kiwis understand what boosts their wellbeing and improves mental health. It runs from 22-29 September. Each day of the week has a new focus and you can follow along on our Facebook page for our tip of the...
General Practice Nurse / Nurse Prescriber
: Ōhope Beach Medical Centre Title: General Practice Nurse / Nurse Prescriber Job Location: New Zealand, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Ōhope Employment Status: Full-time or Part-time Join our committed, fun, and supportive general practice team environment, located on New...
Finance Assistant
Title: Finance Assistant Job Location: New Zealand, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Whakatāne Employment Status: Part-time Are you an accounts whiz? Then we want you! Come join our Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance whānau. Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance delivers a wide...
Veterans Oranga Expo
We were invited to attend the Veterans Oranga Expo in Te Teko, hosted and organised by Te Teko RSA and Te Puna Ora o Mataatua. Four staff from EBPHA attended the day, setting up two stalls to share information about the services we provide. It was an excellent...
New Health Minister for New Zealand
Ayesha Verrall has been appointed as the new Health Minister in New Zealand following the recent changes in the cabinet under Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. She was previously an Associate Minister of Health and holds the portfolios of research, science and innovation....
End of Year Message from Chief Executive
I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of our staff and partners for all of their hard work in what has been both a challenging and rewarding year for the EBPHA. The unpredictable nature of the past year has impacted our general practices and...
Whakaari he Rā Whakamaumaharatanga 2022
Friday 9th December marked the 3 year anniversary of the Whakaari eruption. A tragedy that took the lives of 22 people and seriously injured 25 others. At the time of the eruption, the team at Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance, as a community organisation mourned...
Waiōhau Hauora Day – Nov 2022
Our team were invited by Te Ika Whenua Hauora to join the Waiōhau community and other Health Providers at Waiōhau Marae. The goal of the Hauora Day was to engage and encourage the Waiōhau community to be involved and take leadership within their health journeys. And...
National Tamariki Māori Rugby League Tournament
On October 1st and 2nd, Tūhoe hosted the National Tamariki Māori Rugby League Tournament here in Whakatāne for 2022. The Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance were proud to help support these up and coming league players by sponsoring the Tūhoe under 10, 11, & 12's...
Team Building Day
On Wednesday 12th October, EBPHA had a Team Building Day to try our hands at building bikes while we reconnected as a team. We were also lucky to have Waiariki Whānau Mentoring join us for lunch to accept the children's bikes which they will be donating through their...
How to treat omicron at home
The majority of people who are infected with Omicron experience mild or no symptoms and can safely manage at home. What are the symptoms? A sore throat or a scratchy throat Fever(a temperature above 37.8°C or skin which feels hot to touch). A new, continuous cough....
New Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addictions Service
EBPHA proudly launched the Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addictions Service last week. This service will work alongside General Practice to provide enhanced access and choice for patients. The service will employ Health Improvement Professional (HIPS)...
EBPHA to Present at the 22nd International Conference on Integrated Care
We are very pleased to announce that EBPHA have been invited to speak at the 22nd International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC22), taking place from 22 – 25 May in Odense, Denmark. Our Integrated Care philosophy and model has been recognized for reducing...
Omicron Checklist
With Omicron case numbers expected to increase rapidly in the coming weeks, the best thing you can do right now is be prepared. Have a kōrero with your whanau this weekend and make a plan. Unite against COVID-19 have put together a COVID-19 Readiness Checklist. It...
Childhood Immunisation will continue during Traffic Light Level Red
If your tamariki are due for their childhood immunisation, it’s important that they are still immunised on time, even under traffic light level RED. Our Outreach Immunisation Team will take extra precautions when visiting your home. As well as wearing full PPE, they...
We are now operating at Traffic Light Level Red
Under the Covid-19 Protection Framework, we're now operating at traffic light level Red. Our priority is to protect the well-being of our clients and staff members. We ask all visitors to always wear a mask, scan in on arrival, and sanitise your hands. Where possible...
Eastern BOP After-hours Medical Care
If you require medical assistance after-hours, you should: Call your GP - even after hours Healthline is available 24/7 and you will speak to a registered nurse If you are visiting the Eastern Bay of Plenty phone 0800 306 236 If you are in or near Ōpōtiki you can...
Kawerau COVID-19 Testing Station and Vaccination Clinic
This week 17-23 January, the COVID Vaccination Clinic is located at Concert Chambers, 114b Church St, Kawerau. The opening hours are: Monday 17th - 9am to 4pm Wednesday 19th - 9am to 7pm Saturday 22nd - 9am to 4pm The Kawerau testing station is located at the...
Been waiting over three days for your COVID-19 swab results? Call 0800 225 449
If you’ve been waiting longer than three days/72 hours for your COVID-19 swab results there is an 0800 number available for follow-up. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) Swab Results line, 0800 225 449, was set up originally for those waiting...
COVID-19 Self-Isolation Food and Meal Plan Guide
During lockdown or when self-isolating at home, eating well balanced, healthy, and nutritious meals can often seem to hard and requires too much effort, at a very stressful time! We know that being sick can disrupt your appetite and eating patterns. But it’s really...
New Chair visits WHK Pop-up COVID-19 Testing Centre
New Chair Hamiora Bowkett visited Whakatāne today and witnessed the COVID-19 resurgence team in full swing. Yesterdays announcement of 12 new cases in the BOP region, including one positive case in Eastern Bay of Plenty, located in Waimana, prompted a quick responce...
BOP DHB is not turning away COVID-19 unvaccinated people from its services
The Bay of Plenty District Heath Board has become aware of some misinformation in the Bay of Plenty community, that patients who have not been COVID-19 vaccinated cannot receive treatment at Tauranga and Whakatāne Hospitals. Acting Chief Operating Officer...
Bay of Plenty’s Pasifika community conquers 90 percent fully vaccinated target
The Bay of Plenty’s Pasifika community has risen to the call to protect their aiga (family) and surpassed the 90 percent fully vaccinated milestone. Ninety-one percent of Pacific Island residents in the district are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. More than 95...
Resounding call for Māori in Te Moana ā Toi to get vaccinated
The Board of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board is endorsing the Tikanga Hou released by Te Rūnanga Hauora Māori o te Moana ā Toi, imploring Māori in the district to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “The Board tautoko the call from the Rūnanga for...
Appointment of new Board Chair
It is with pleasure that we announce Hamiora Bowkett as the Chair of the Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance. “It is a real pleasure and privilege to work within the Eastern Bay, in particular these communities. Although life for everyone is heavily impacted by...
Record-breaking Super Saturday a springboard for summer vaccination push
Whakatāne District Council Mayor Judy Turner (right) supporting Super Shot Saturday at the Bay of Plenty DHB’s event in Whakatāne
Ōpōtiki Supersedes Super Saturday Expectations
Over two hundred people received their COVID vaccination at the Ōpōtiki Health Centre on Saturday. It was an outstanding turn out by the community. With some people enticed to participate in the day, thanks to the generosity of Te Pou Oranga O Whakatohea, who...
Mobile COVID vaccinations available
Do you have a rōpū (group) of 30 people or more? Mobile COVID vacciantion services are now available and will visit your marae, workplace, community hall, sports club, or whare and vaccinate you and your rōpū there. If you are interested in this free service, please...
200,000th dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered in the Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty has reached a significant milestone in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The district health board confirmed the administration of its 200,000th dose of the vaccine on 15 September, 2021. “The rollout of the free COVID-19 vaccine offers us the best...
Ōhope open drive-through vaccination centre
Ōhope Beach Medical Centre opened its drive-through vaccination centre on Thursday last week. It is the second Eastern Bay medical practice to do so after Whakatōhea Medical Centre began offering a drive-through vaccination services while in Alert level 4 lockdown....
Child immunisations go mobile during lockdown
Childhood immunisations remain a priority during all COVID-19 Alert Levels and the Eastern Bay of Plenty Public Health Alliance (EBPHA) Outreach Immunisation Service (OIS) team are doing their best to ensure tamariki and pēpi don’t miss out. Many GPs have...
Farewell Sir Michael Cullen
With much sadness, we farewell Sir Michael Cullen, who died overnight in hospice care in Whakatāne. Sir Michael Cullen was appointed Chair to the Bay of Plenty District Health Board in 2019, and stepped down in March 2020, due to his battle with lung cancer....
Ōpōtiki opens first BOP drive-thru vaccination clinic
The Ōpōtiki (GP Led) Vaccination Centre opened Bay of Plenty’s first drive-thru vaccination centre at the Medical Hub today, Friday 20th August. Under alert level 4 vaccination centers around the country are trying to manage the extra restrictions and social...
COVID-19 Test Criteria
MOH guidelines for testing People should be tested who have symptoms that meet the clinical criteria for COVID-19 (detailed below). Where people meet the clinical criteria for COVID-19 and also meet the HIS criteria, extra steps (self-isolation and notification) are...
New Zealand is now at Alert Level 4
Recap of current announcements New Zealand has one case of community transmitted COVID-19 in Auckland - this case has been treated as the Delta variant. As this is a more highly transmissible delta variant, a more stringent approach has been taken. The whole of...
EBPHA Clinical Director Awarded Community Service Medal
Dr Rachel Shouler has been awarded a Community Service Medal by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Dr Shouler is a GP at Tarawera Medical Centre and works as a GP liaison for Bay of Plenty District Health Board and is the Clinical Director at...
Do you have prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, or High cholesterol?
Our Diabetes and Heart Health programme is a FREE course that focuses on self-management of your condition. We have courses starting: Ōpōtiki 10am-12pm – Whakatohea Trust Board Wednesday 4th August Wednesday 11th August Wednesday 18th August Wednesday 25th August...
Alert level change for Wellington
Recap of current announcements An Australian traveller from Sydney who visited Wellington from Saturday, 19 June to Monday, 21 June has tested positive upon his return to Australia Wellington will move to Alert Level 2 at 6pm on Wednesday, 23 June until 11.59pm on...
After-hours Immunisation Clinic at EBPHA
We are offering an after-hours immunisation clinic at our Whakatāne office. The immunisation clinic will offer: • Free Flu vaccine for people 16 years and over with pre-existing health conditions • Free MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) for people 15 to 30 years of age •...
Budget 2021: PHO chief pleased at moves on locality network
A PHO chief is putting up his hand for his area to be considered as a prototype locality network under the Government’s health reforms. And another PHO chief has expressed his pleasure at the commitment to funding for the Māori Health Authority. Money for...
NZ Healthcare Award Winners
The New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards / He Tohu Mauri Ora were held on Saturday 15th May, at a black-tie awards ceremony in Auckland. In attendance was the Integrated Case Management Team and EBPHA CE Greig Dean. Some of New Zealand’s leading healthcare...
EBPHA Finalist in NZ Healthcare Awards
“We are honoured to be finalists for a second year in a row” says Greig Dean, CE of Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance (EBPHA). This weekend Mr Dean and the Integrated Case Management (ICM) Team travel to Auckland for the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards. The...
Ōpōtiki Medical Hub mark one year milestone
This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Ōpōtiki Medical Hub, a collaborative service provided by Church St Surgery, Toi Ora Health and Whakatōhea Health Centre. “We launched the same month we went into lock down and at that time, there was so much uncertainty...