Winton Medical Services

01/09/2026

16/08/2026

🤒 Flu is doing the rounds.
You may have seen reports in the paper that St John is experiencing a high number of calls from people with flu and other winter illnesses. We are also seeing a significant increase in calls and appointments needed at Winton Medical Services.
Please don’t let that stop you contacting us if you are unwell or concerned. We would much rather you call if you need advice or medical care.
A few reminders:
• 🤧 Most flu can be managed at home with rest, plenty of fluids and regular paracetamol if needed.
• 📞 Please call us if you are concerned, particularly if symptoms are worsening rather than improving.
• 🫁 Seek medical advice if you are short of breath, having difficulty breathing, very weak, dehydrated, confused, or significantly more unwell than you would expect with a usual cold or flu.
• 👶 Please have a lower threshold for calling about babies and young children, particularly if they are not drinking, are unusually sleepy, or you are worried about their breathing.
• 👵 Older people, pregnant people, and those with significant long-term health conditions may also need medical advice earlier.
• 😷 If you need to come into the practice and have flu-like symptoms, please wear a mask if you are able and let reception know about your symptoms.
• 🚑 For a medical emergency, call 111.
Our phones and clinical team are particularly busy at present, so there may be a little more of a wait than usual. Thank you for your patience and kindness to our staff while we work our way through the winter bugs.
Most importantly – if you think you need us, please still call.
— Winton Medical Services

25/06/2026

A big thank you to More FM for today's amazing morning tea shout. It was absolutely delicious and very much appreciated by the whole Winton Medical Services team.
Safe to say there probably won’t be many leftovers! 😄 Thanks for making our day a little bit sweeter.

25/06/2026

📢 Have you been living in our Winton district for a long time but still don't have a GP?
We know that some people who have lived locally for many years may still not be enrolled with a general practice.
If you or your family have been living in our Winton district long-term (1 year +)and don't currently have a GP, we'd like to hear from you if:
• You have children who are not enrolled with a GP
• You have a serious ongoing medical condition and are currently without a GP in Southland.
We're reviewing enquiries on a case-by-case basis to help those with the greatest need.
Please contact our reception team to discuss your circumstances.
Please note: Our books remain closed for general enrolments, and we are not accepting requests from people wishing to transfer from another local practice.

• Please contact Well South on their enrolments line; 0800 478 256 for assistance with enrolment options.
• Invercargill after-hours is currently provided at Te Hau o Te Ora general practice on Don Street. 6.00-9pm on weekdays and 12-4pm on weekends and public holidays. Please call 0800 456 138 to arrange an appointment.
• If you live in Winton (or near surrounds) or are visiting someone here, you may be eligible to use the Ka Ora After Hours Rural Telehealth Service.
Ph 0800 252 672 or visit their website kaora.co.nz
• You can also visit info.health.nz/onlinegp for more information on the new government supported Online 24/7 Telemedicine Service.
• Or you can contact Healthline on 0800 611116

19/06/2026

If you remember untangling one of these, it might be time to check in on a few other things too. This Men’s Health Week, take a few minutes to find out where your health stands. What’s Your Score? https://menshealthweek.co.nz/mens-health-survey/

19/06/2026

If this was once your dream ride, it might be time for your own WOF. This Men’s Health Week, take a few minutes to check in with yourself. What’s Your Score? Check ➡️ https://menshealthweek.co.nz/mens-health-survey/

29/04/2026

We would like to sincerely thank the JBW McKenzie Trust for their very generous donation to Winton Medical Centre.
This funding will support our ability to assist patients who may be experiencing barriers to accessing care. Any support provided will be determined by our team, based on individual circumstances.
Sometimes it’s the quieter support that has the biggest impact — and this is exactly that.
We are very grateful for the JBW McKenzie Trust’s support and what it will mean for our community. Thank you.

09/04/2026

Dear patients, a few things of note and hopefully of interest to you!

Flu vaccine
Urgent/same day appointments
Prescription requests
New Permanent GP starting
Sign in tablets

The 2026 Influenza Immunisation Programme starts on 1 April 2026,
and funded vaccines remain available until 31 December 2026.

Eligibility for funded influenza vaccination is funded and available for:
• pregnant people
• people aged 65 years and over
• people aged 6 months to under 65 years with eligible conditions
• children 4 years of age and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness
• people aged 6 months to under 65 years with serious mental health and addiction conditions

If you require an urgent same day appointment, you will be put on our “triage” list. Monday to Friday we have a GP working in the morning calling these patients by phone and either booking them in for an in-clinic appointment, doing a phone consult, or advising the most appropriate treatment path. If a consult is completed with this GP, there is a normal GP fee, or a script fee.

We have noticed an increase in people not answering their phones after requesting a call – if you miss the call, you may miss out on talking to the doctor or nurse as they will need to move on to the next patient.

Prescriptions – we require a minimum of 2 working days’ notice to prepare your script and send the request to the pharmacy. A repeat prescription – is of your usual long term medications only. If you require anything new, or maybe something you got a few years ago and want again– a GP appointment is needed so a doctor can prescribe them.

Also please check at your pharmacy for any ‘repeats’. This is where you ring us and we prescribe say 3 months of medications. The pharmacy may only be able to dispense one month at a time, which means you can go back to the Pharmacy for the next two months and pick up a month at a time.

Good news for us, Dr Steven Murugayah, who was a Registrar with us last year will be joining us as a permanent GP this month working Monday to Thursday. He is keen to gain as much experience as he can from Dr Stewart, Dr White and Dr Paulose! Also from Dr Vere-Hodge who is still a regular locum for us.

Patient Portal – If you have any problems/questions about the portal, please let reception know and we will do our best to help sort it out with you!
Sign in tablets – we need to make sure we know everyone who has arrived for their appointment. Now you can either check in with the reception team, or we know sometimes there is a bit of a line up…..so we have introduced two check in tablets. Located to your left when you come in the front doors.

Thank you, please let us know if you have any questions about this information.

Merrin and the team at Winton Medical

17/03/2026

A Familiar Face for Generations— Heading Off on New Adventures (we still have her for a while though!)🥰

After more than 30 years of truly dedicated service to our community, we share the news that Dr Caroline Stewart will be leaving Winton Medical Centre at the beginning of October.

Dr Stewart has been a constant and trusted presence in our practice and the Central Southland Community for decades, caring for generations of patients with skill, patience, and genuine commitment. 👩‍⚕️ Her contribution over this time has been significant, and she will be greatly missed by both our team and our patients.

While we are sad to see her go, we also recognise this is very well deserved. After 30+ years of looking after everyone else, it’s probably time she gets a turn!

Dr Stewart is looking forward to some travel, rest, and new adventures—something we are very pleased to see for her. (I have said ‘rest’, but we all know she will be ‘resting’ at full speed! Probably on a bike, or on the golf course!🚵‍♀🏌‍♀)

Please join us in thanking Dr Stewart for her service and wishing her all the very best for the future.

— The Team at Winton Medical Centre