Clutha Health First

28/10/2026

Community Invitation | Clutha Health Trust Public Meeting

Join us for the Clutha Health Trust Public Meeting and hear about the Trust's work, achievements, and ongoing commitment to supporting quality healthcare in our community.

We're also pleased to welcome Fi McKay from Legend TLC, who will share insights from working closely with Clutha Health staff to support excellence in rural healthcare.

📅 Wednesday, 18 November 2026
🕢 7.30pm
📍 Rosebank Lodge, 265 Clyde Street, Balclutha

Everyone is welcome. Community support and involvement play an important role in helping us continue to deliver quality healthcare services close to home.

RSVP by 12 November: 📧 [email protected] 📞 03 419 0500

27/10/2026

We would like to remind patients our clinical team triage all patients to ensure those with the greatest clinical need receive care as quickly as possible.

If we are unable to provide care directly, we will discuss the most appropriate alternative care options available to you.

If your condition is not urgent, you may wish to access care through:
✅ Healthline – Free health advice 24/7 on 0800 611 116
✅ Ka Ora Telecare – Virtual GP appointments and healthcare support
✅ Health NZ National Telehealth Services – Access to a range of phone and online health services
✅ Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre – For urgent medical care that cannot wait for a routine appointment.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 111 immediately.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to provide safe and timely care for everyone.

14/10/2026

🩼 Do You Have Unused Elbow Crutches at Home?

We're asking our community to help us support others in need.

If you have a set of elbow crutches at home that are no longer being used, please consider returning them to Clutha Health First.

Returned crutches can be checked, cleaned, and made available to other people recovering from injury, surgery, or illness.

By returning your unused crutches, you're helping us ensure this valuable equipment is available for those who need it most.

Thank you for helping us make the most of our community resources and supporting the wellbeing of others.

12/10/2026

Free Couples Counselling Available in the Clutha District

Every relationship goes through rough patches. Sometimes communication breaks down, conflict becomes the norm, or things just feel a little lost. For couples in the Clutha District, there's now a free, confidential service available to help — and the barrier to access couldn't be lower.

Clutha Health First is pleased to offer a couples counselling service, at no cost to those living in the district.

Who This Service Is For:
This service is open to couples who are:
• Living in the Clutha District and in a relationship
• Struggling to communicate effectively with one another
• Finding themselves in ongoing conflict, where compromise feels out of reach
• Feeling like they've lost their way and aren't sure how to get things back on track
• Ready and willing to actively engage in the counselling process
• If any of that sounds familiar, this service was designed with you in mind.

What to Expect:
Sessions run for one hour per week and are available either in person at Clutha Health First in Balclutha, or online — whichever works best for you.

The service is completely confidential and is described as a non-judgmental, safe space. There's no referral needed from a GP or specialist. Couples can simply reach out directly.

About the Counsellor:
The service is led by Eileen Cavanagh, an experienced Family Therapist with a focus on conflict resolution and communication. A lot of couples arrive at counselling feeling like they've been having the same argument for years, or like they've just stopped talking altogether. Eileen works with that. Rather than focusing purely on what's gone wrong, she helps couples build practical skills and strategies they can actually use — things like how to have a difficult conversation without it turning into a fight, or how to find some common ground when it feels like there isn't any. The goal isn't to pretend everything is fine. It's to give couples something useful to work with, so things can genuinely get better over time.

How to Get in Touch:
To access the service, self-refer directly to Eileen:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 686 751

Reaching out is often the hardest step. If you or your partner have been thinking about getting a little support, this is a good place to start. The service is here, it's free, and it's available now.

Send a message to learn more

22/09/2026

Today we have reduced clinician availability due to staff illness.

Our clinical team will be triaging patients to ensure those with the greatest need receive care as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide safe care for everyone.

If your condition is not urgent, you may wish to access care through:
✅ Healthline – Free health advice 24/7 on 0800 611 116
✅ Ka Ora Telecare – Virtual GP appointments and healthcare support
✅ Health NZ National Telehealth Services – Access to a range of phone and online health services
✅ Dunedin Urgent Doctors & Accident Centre – For urgent medical care that cannot wait for a routine appointment.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 111 immediately.

Thank you for your understanding and kindness towards our team today.

Send a message to learn more

21/09/2026

🌿 Your Voice Matters to Us 🌿

At Clutha Health First, your feedback helps shape the care we provide. Whether you’ve had a positive experience, want to recognise a team member, or have suggestions for how we can do better — we’re listening.

💬 Share your thoughts with us here: https://cluthahealth.co.nz/contact/complaints-compliments-and-feedback/

Every comment helps us grow and continue delivering the best possible care for our community.

21/09/2026

After hours doesn't mean without options. 🏥

If you need primary care outside of regular Clutha Health First hours, Ka Ora is here to help — and it's worth knowing how it works before you actually need it.

Ka Ora is the after-hours rural General Practice service for Clutha Health First, together with other rural General Practices in Otago and Southland. When our clinic is closed, you're not left to figure things out on your own. Here's what the service offers:

- A telehealth assessment with an Emergency Specialist Doctor
- Face-to-face care arranged at CHF during certain hours (excluding overnight)
- A referral to your nearest Emergency Department if it's needed
- Healthcare advice when that's all you require

Outside of standard hours, the General Practice is open by appointment (via Ka Ora) on weekday evenings until 9pm, and 9am–6pm on weekends.

The numbers to know:

— Emergency: 111
— Ka Ora (via CHF): (03) 419 0500
— Ka Ora (direct): 0800 252 672
— Healthline (advice, 24/7): 0800 611 116

Once you know the system, it's straightforward — and having that knowledge ahead of time makes a real difference when you're unwell and need to act quickly.

Save this post, share it with whānau in the Clutha District, and make sure the right numbers are in your phone before you need them.

17/09/2026

Our GM of Clinical Services Nicky, recently met with the team from Clutha Development to speak about what makes our health facility a special place to work right here in Clutha. Check out what Nicky has to say.