COVID-19 Information

Covid Funding for Medical Services

From 13 Feburary you may need to pay for Covid related visits. If you are at risk of becoming very sick with Covid you may still be able to access free…

COVID Medical Services Funding

From 13 Feburary you may need to pay for Covid related visits.

If you are at risk of becoming very sick with Covid you may still be able to access free healthcare. Criteria apply for accessing free medical services.

With the Omicron variant, most people can recover at home. This is due to high vaccination rates and widespread natural immunity.

For more information, click on this link.

Staying Safe

Key points to remember during this challenging time:

Staying Safe at Doctors on Riccarton

Doctors on Riccarton is committed to providing an environment that minimises the transmission of COVID-19 and any other infections.

To protect staff and other patients, particularly vulnerable patients, we recommend everyone in our clinic to

wear a mask
sanitise your hands when entering and leaving our building
refrain from entering the clinic if you have Covid like symptoms
answer our screening questions honestly

If you or your children have any Covid-like symptoms, we encourage patients to arrange a phone consult or a video consult. This way of seeing your doctor and other health providers helps maintain physical distance as much as possible to help reduce the transmission of Covid-19.

If you need a face-to-face consult while you have any COVID-like symptoms, please inform our receptionist. We can arrange a car park consult for you. The nurse and/or doctor will see you in the car park with Personal Protection Equipment (like masks, face shield and/or gown).

COVID Vaccinations

We are not currently administering COVID vaccines at Doctors on Riccarton.

Our pharmacy next door, Remedy Pharmacy, is administering Covid Vaccines. They prefer patients to ring ahead but do take walk ins if you are prepared to wait. Alternatively, you can book an appointment on the Book My Vaccine website.

The COVID-19 vaccines stimulate your body’s immune system to produce antibodies and train T-cells that will fight the virus if you’re exposed to it.

The vaccines help prevent you from getting infected, having COVID-19 symptoms, or severe illness. This means you could have no COVID-19 symptoms or will have much fewer, milder symptoms and recover faster.

As with any vaccine, being up to date with your vaccinations (based on age, eligibility and other factors) may not mean you’ll be fully protected from infection, however it significantly reduces your chances of becoming seriously ill or ending up in hospital. This is particularly if you have the full course (two doses for Pfizer and Novavax) and a booster (one or two, depending on your eligibility).

The following people are recommended to receive a second booster as a priority:

all people aged 50 years and over
Māori and Pacific peoples aged 40 years and over
residents of aged care and disability care facilities
severely immunocompromised people who received a three-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster (noting this would be a fifth dose for these people)
people aged 16 years and over who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe breakthrough COVID-19 illness and
people aged 16 years and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
health, aged care and disability workers aged over 30 years.

The following table outlines when you should get your Pfizer vaccine *

COVID Tests

If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, get a test as soon as you start to feel unwell. Doing a test and reporting the result means you can get the help you need as early as possible. A RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) is normally recommended. You can pre-order the free RATs and collect them at one of the collection centers. You can also purchase RATs at the pharmacies. You can do the RAT at home. Please click here for more information on how to do the test at home.

Alternatively you can also get the test done at one of the community testing centers.

We are NOT one of the RAT test collection centers, however we do have RATs onsite for our enrolled patients to use if needed.

Click here for more information on RATs.

We still do COVID PCR swabs for some patients depending on the clinical needs. This is usually only done after an assessment is completed. If you think you may need a PCR test, please discuss with our doctors and nurses.

Report your RAT result

If you or your family member test positive, you should report the results of your rapid antigen test (RAT). You can do this by uploading the result online My COVID Record. This can be accessed through your NZCOVID Tracer app or by visiting the website on your computer internet browser. You can also call the helpline 0800 222 478 and choose option 3 to report your result.

If you are having difficulties reporting your test result through the above methods, please ring us. We can help you to register your result.

7 days of Isolation

If you test positive for COVID, you must self-isolate for at least 7 days while you recover. Day 0 is the day your symptoms started or when you tested positive, whichever came first. Your Household Contacts do not need to isolate unless they test positive, but a daily RAT test is recommended for 5 days.

Here is the link to help you to work out your household isolation timeline.

COVID Care

Most people with COVID-19 — especially if they are fully vaccinated and boosted — are likely to have a mild to moderate illness and will be fine to self manage their recovery at home.

Symptoms for COVID-19 tend to show 2 to 5 days after a person has been infected but can take up to 14 days.

After your positive COVD test is uploaded, we will be notified by the Ministry of Health. Our doctors will review your notes to determine whether you are eligible for anti-viral medications or at high risk of developing COVID-related complications. Factors to consider include but are not limited to age, COVID immunisation status, comorbidities and social needs etc.

If we consider your risk of developing severe complications to be relatively low and you are not eligible for the anti-viral medications, we will not contact you. You can find information on self-care and isolation. However, some people do develop moderate or severe symptoms or need extra help even if they are normally fit and well. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are struggling to manage at home and need to discuss your concerns or symptoms. Due to the latest COVID service funding changes, from the 13th Feb 2023, only some COVID-related services are funded. Please check the information on this link to see whether you may meet the criteria for certain COVID-related services.

If we consider your risk of developing severe complications is high and are eligible for the anti-viral medications, the Doctors will contact you for an initial phone assessment. Regular phone/video reviews may be organised depending on your clinical needs. Please be aware that NOT all people at higher risk will develop severe complications.

Please click here for the current criteria to access COVID anti-viral medications in New Zealand.

It is very important that we have your up-to-date contact details including your emergency contacts, so we can better support you while you are in self-isolation. Please update your contact details through the patient portal Myindici or give us a ring.

Please click on COVID Home Care Guide for more information about how to look after yourself and your family while in isolation.

COVID Travel Tests

International Travel – Covid Travel Swabs and Blood Testing

From 17 January 2022 we are no longer booking any appointments for Covid travel testing. The following medical centres can do these in Christchurch:

Village Health. 30 Lincoln Road
Riccarton Clinic. 4 Yaldhurst Road
Moorhouse Medical. 3 Pilgrim Place
WeCare Wigram. 67 Skyhawk Road
Rako Science. They do saliva PCR tests which are accepted by some countries.

For travellers to China: please go to the Chinese Embassy website to check what’s required as this may change over time.

COVID Domestic and International Pass

If you need to get a Covid Vaccine Pass, please click here for more information on how to obtain one.

If you are having difficulties getting a Covid Vaccine Pass, please ring us. We can help you with this.

COVID Information Links

Unite Against COVID

Ministry of Health’s latest updates, information and advice on COVID-19

COVID Health Hub

Our Services

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: Closed

Contact Details

Phone 03 348 8989

Address
183 Riccarton Road, Riccarton Christchurch 8041
Find us on Google Maps →

Remedy Pharmacy Riccarton

107 Wainui Street, Riccarton
Phone: 03 925 9963
Visit website →

After Hours

Face to Face Appointments
24 Hour Surgery (no appointment needed)
Address: 401 Madras Street
Phone: 03 365 7777

Telehealth GP Appointments
Practice Plus
Click on Practice Plus Link

Telehealth Emergency Doctor Appointments
Emergency Consult
Click on Emergency Consult Link

When we are closed, our phones are diverted to Whakarongarau (formerly Homecare Medical), a nurse operated answering service. They can offer phone advice. More information about their service is available on this link.

Click on After Hours Link for more information