Public Health Nurses and Screening
What is Public Health Nursing & Screening Services?
Public Health Nurses are registered nurses who work with children, young people and their families/whānau to promote health and provide support to enhance well-being.
This is a regional service covering Rotorua, Taupō and Tūrangi. The service includes Public Health Nurses, Vision Hearing Technicians, Outreach Immunisation, the B4 School team, Te Whatu Ora Lakes Immunisation Facilitator and the Mobile Ear Van Clinic.
What we offer?
- Assessments of health concerns for school-aged children as requested by parent/caregiver
- Assistance with health and development
- Support children, young people and their families to navigate through health care, social agencies and services
- Facilitate access and link/refer families to other health professionals and services
- Work with families, teachers and schools to ensure children are healthy and ready to learn
- Provide health information and advice
- Organise and deliver immunisation programmes in schools
- Child advocacy
Referrals can be received from:
- Parents/Caregivers
- Schools and Teachers
- Education Services - such as social workers in Schools, RTLB (Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour)
- Health Professionals
If you wish to make a referral to our service please complete our PHN referral form or contact our office directly.
Contact
Rotorua
8am - 4.30pm Monday – Friday (excluding public holidays)
Phone: 07 343 7747
Taupō
8am - 4.30pm Monday – Thursday (excluding public holidays)
Phone: 07 376 1012
Our services
Some of our Public Health Nurses are qualified to deliver neonatal BCG vaccinations and case manage TB.
In June 2011 the criteria to qualify for a neonatal BCG vaccination changed.
If your infant meets the Ministry of Health/IMAC criteria and you wish to have you baby vaccinated your midwife will complete a referral on your behalf or you may self refer.
Please send referrals to the NIRTEAM@lakesdhb.govt.nz
The School Based Immunisation Programme is delivered by the Public Health Nurses to schools in the Rotorua, Taupō and Tūrangi areas.
Education sessions are given to all students being offered a vaccination. Consent forms with information about the immunisations are sent home for the caregiver/legal guardian to complete and return to the school.
What we offer
BOOSTRIX Vaccine - For Year 7 students (11 years old), given in one injection for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
HPV GARDASIL Immunisation to protect against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)- For Year 8 girls and boys, given in three injections throughout the school year
HPV is a very common virus that 4 out of 5 of us will be exposed to in our lives. This virus causes infections that can lead on to some types of cancers.
Gardasil is on the National Immunisation Schedule and is available to all children from 9 years of age.
For more information contact:
- Public Health Nurses on (07) 343 7747
- Your medical centre
- Visit the IMAC (Immunisation Advisory Centre) website
- Phone 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863)
Vision and Hearing Technicians are screeners who deliver a national screening service in preschools, early education centres, community clinics and client homes.
Vision and Hearing Technicians undertake:
- Vision hearing screening on 4-year-olds as part of the B4 school check
- Vision screening to all year 7 students and colour vision to year 7 boys
- Follow-up screening and referrals to optometrists, ophthalmology, audiology and the Ear Nurse Specialist
Vision and hearing checks can be provided to other school aged children however if there are concerns about their hearing and/or vision then screening by a specialist is recommended.