Carefirst Medical Centres

14/09/2026

🥰 Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori! 🥰
At Carefirst, we believe strengthening our reo helps strengthen the way we care for patients, whānau, and community.

That’s why we tautoko the revitalisation of te reo Māori by funding accessible reo learning for our kaimahi, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to grow their confidence — from beginner kōrero through to advanced, tikanga‑rich courses.

To join the celebration, try weaving a little reo into your day!
✨ Morena – good morning
✨ Kia ora – hello
✨Mīharo! – wonderful/awesome
✨ Ngā mihi – thank you
✨ Aroha mai – sorry
✨ Mā te wā – see you later

Kia kaha te reo Māori, today and always. 💛

11/09/2026

Did you know... at Carefirst we provide FREE sexual health and contraception appointments for people aged under 25.

It’s confidential, supportive, and judgement-free healthcare. Book your appointment today.

Like and share to help spread the word!

03/09/2026

"Hi everyone, I'm Hannah 👋 I'm a 25 year old New Plymouth local and I’m really excited to have joined the Carefirst Westown team as a primary care assistant, supporting our patients and contributing to the health and wellbeing of our local community.

Before joining Carefirst, I worked as a sterile technician with Health New Zealand, where I gained valuable experience within the healthcare environment. I’m looking forward to continuing my learning by undertaking my Level 4 Health Care Assistant qualification, building on my Level 3 health qualification and developing my skills to support patients with a wider range of interventions.

Having actually been a Carefirst patient myself as a child, it feels particularly special to now be part of the team caring for the community I grew up in. 💚

I’m really looking forward to meeting our patients, supporting the amazing Carefirst team, and playing my part in helping our community stay happy, healthy and well.

I can’t wait to see you around the practice! 😊"

Join us in welcoming Hannah to the Carefirst whānau — leave her a message below! 😃

31/08/2026

If your cervical screening is due (or overdue), here’s what your appointment at Carefirst will usually look like:

✅ You’ll meet with one of our caring, experienced nurses
✅ They’ll chat through the process, answer any pātai/questions, and help you choose the option that feels right for you
✅ For many people, a quick and simple self-test with a swab is available, done privately and in just a few minutes

If it’s time for your cervical screen, give us a call to book.

You can also find more information on the Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora cervical screening page: www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/cervical-screening

27/08/2026

If you’re one of our Tukapa Medical Centre patients now receiving care at Carefirst, you’ll be seeing one of these two friendly faces: Dr Rita Karabedyan and Dr Liam Paterson. They’re the GPs providing your care here at Carefirst Westown, supported by Dr Price.

Many of our patients will recognise Rita from her welcome post a little while back (check it out here: www.carefirst.co.nz/community-news/Rita), and today, we’re excited to give a big Carefirst welcome to Liam!👋 He's excited to be here and is looking forward to meeting all of his patients and the wider Carefirst whānau.

Whether you’re new to Carefirst from Tukapa Medical Centre or you've been with us for a while, we’re glad you’re part of our community and Liam and Rita are excited to support your care with our wider GP team.

25/08/2026

Kia ora! The builders have returned to Carefirst Westown this week, so you might see a bit of movement around reception and hear a bit of noise here and there. But rest assured, all services are running as normal, and our reception team is in their usual spot to greet you when you arrive 😃

18/08/2026

🤧 We’re seeing lots of people with flu and respiratory illnesses at the moment. If you’re feeling unwell/māuiui staying home, resting, keeping your fluids up, and practising good hand hygiene can make a big difference. And if you do need to come in, please pop on a mask — it helps protect everyone in our waiting rooms.

It’s not too late to get your flu vaccine. This year’s vaccine is a good match for the strains currently circulating, and we still have plenty available across all Carefirst clinics. Get in touch with us to book an appointment with our nursing team — it’s free for many people.

For info on how to protect yourself, look after yourself if you’re sick, and when to seek help, read the full blog post on our website (👉link in comments)

If you find it helpful, please share this post — it’s a simple way to support your whānau and community this winter.

10/08/2026

What better way to kick off Women's Health Week/Te Wiki Hauora Wāhine than by celebrating one of our own? 💙🌊 We’re super proud of Carefirst nurse Kirsten, who’s heading to Singapore this month to compete at the International Va’a World Champs with her master women’s waka ama team, Hupsters.

The team qualified after placing in the top six at NZ Nationals in their 6‑man canoe — and picking up a silver in their 12‑man. Such an awesome achievement and a real testament to their hard work.

They’ll be racing from 17–30 August, and we’ll all be cheering them on from home. You can catch the action on the IVF YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/

07/08/2026

We’ve got something pretty special to celebrate — our very own Dr Lucy Gibberd has been awarded the President’s Service Medal by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP).

If you’ve ever crossed paths with Lucy, you’ll know exactly why. She’s spent years teaching, mentoring, guiding, and championing the next generation of GPs in Taranaki. So many of the doctors caring for our community today have been shaped by her wisdom, her encouragement, and her belief in strong local training.

Her vision, her heart for equity, and her commitment to keeping healthcare strong in our region have made a real difference — and this award recognises just that.

Congratulations Lucy, and thank you for everything you continue to do for our community. We’re so proud of you. 💙

Read the full story here: https://carefirst.co.nz/community-news/

04/08/2026

What’s on your Winter Wellness bingo card? We’re all about those small self‑care moments - the cosy, everyday habits that help keep you well all season long.

Winter wellness starts with the little things. Rest when you're tired, slow down when you need to, and don't forget to look after you 💙

P.S. If you’re feeling a bit off track, free mental wellbeing support is available. Whether you want to think more positively, sleep better, manage stress, or change habits like drinking, the Access and Choice programme can connect you with someone who can help before things pile up. Visit wellbeingsupport.health.nz to find a provider near you.