top of page

COVID VACCINES 

Birkdale Pharmacy offers COVID-19 vaccines. 

-Book online if possible as this allows us to be better prepared or give us a call on 09 4836379

-Walk-ins are welcome but subject to availability of vaccines on the day.

RAPID ANTIGEN TESTING

Rapid Antigen tests often refereed to RATS are a screening for COVID-19 that can provide a test quickly. If your RAT test is positive you will need to follow up with a PCR test. 

We sell packs of 5's and singles at the pharmacy.

FLU VACCINES 

Getting your flu vaccine is one of the best things you can do to stay well during the flu season. 

-Your vaccine will be delivered by a qualified vaccinating pharmacist who will take you through a few questions before administrating the vaccine. 

-There is a 20min wait period afterwards to ensure there is no reaction to the vaccine. 

- Free for 65 years and older or pregnant or have a chronic condition. 

ASEPTIC DISPENSING

Pharmacists at Birkdale Pharmacy are trained to dispense prescriptions in an aseptic environment. This is essential in the preparation of palliative care syringe drivers. We work alongside Hospice to provide medication and advice for palliative care patients. 

B12 VACCINES

Vitamin B12 is necessary for making red blood cells and is important for health of nerve cells and formation of genetic material. 

-B12 deficiency can include dizziness and fatigue . 

-Without treatment it can result in anemia and damage to the nervous system 

-Bookings are essential, please see us in store or call us to make a booking.

CLOZAPINE DISPENSING

Birkdale Pharmacy offers Clozapine dispensing. As a requirement we check our clients blood tests prior to dispensing the appropriate dose of clozapine. Our staff monitors our clients regularly for potential side affects and interactions. We work alongside the Mental Health Team to ensure that our patients receive appropriate monitoring and that each dispensing is safe for the patient without interruption to their patient. 

OPIOID SUBSTITUTION SERVICE

We liaise with the Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) to offer opioid substitution dispensing  such as Methadone and Suboxone. Our Pharmacists are trained to administer your dose accurately and safety on a daily basis and/ or as a takeaway dose. 

BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

Regular blood pressure monitoring is recommended to reduce your risk of heart problems. Early detection of high blood pressure can limit damage to your heart and blood vessels, thus preventing more serious heart problems such as a heart attack. You can take advantage of our demonstration blood pressure machine and start monitoring your blood pressure for free today 

Drop in service: NOTE: this service does not replace the advice of your doctor. 

MEDICINE USE REVIEW

Do you struggle to keep track of which medicines to take throughout the day and when to take them?

We offer a medicine use review service, in which we use compliance packing to pack your medicines according to the directions of your doctor, which will help you manage your medications. This free service takes you through a process of identifying ways to get the best benefit from your medication. One-on-one either at Birkdale Pharmacy or your home. This is a funded program from the Waitemata DHB.

Ask us about our medicine use review service next time you bring in a prescription. 

MEDICAL

DISPOSAL

Medicines must be disposed of correctly – so they don't end up in our waterways or in the wrong hands. If you have unused or expired medicines, your pharmacy has systems in place to take care of them for you. At Birkdale Pharmacy we will help you to dispose of them correctly. Medicines must be discarded safely and a number of drugs require a specific type of disposal. Give us a call and we can make sure that your medicines don’t end up in the wrong places. We encourage safe disposal of medications. You should return any expired, unwanted or unused medicines lying around at home to help reduce the chance that others may accidentally take or in.

PRESCRIPTION REPEAT REMINDERS

Life gets busy!. So we offer a service to remind you about your next prescription repeat. We sent a txt about and you reply yes or no or what medication you would like and then we will process the repeat for you to pick up. 

LONG TERM CONDITIONS (LTC) SERVICES

We offer LTC services for patients who take multiple medicines for more than one chronic health condition including:

- Synchronisation of prescriptions to keep then aligned

-Reconciliation of prescriptions to ensure medications is always up to date

-The disposal of unused or expired medicine

-Regular contact with the client

medicine management solutions

-Adjusting the collection of your medication to suit your needs

-Providing a medication card every time your prescription changes

Speak to one our  pharmacists today  for more information or if you qualify for the funded LTC service.

MEDICO BLISTER PACKS

Do you find it hard to remember if you've taken your medicines?

Are you worried about a member of your family who may be finding it hard to keep track of what to take and when?

Do you find it hard to open pill bottles or read their labels?

Do you have children who need to take medication to school sometimes?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then compliance packing may help. Your tablets and capsules are dispensed into a convenient, safe and reliable pack instead of bottles and boxes. The packs are labelled with the time and day to take each medicine - no more guesswork!

 

Personalised blister packs can help ensure that the right medication(s) are taken at the right time, on the right day, and at the precise dose prescribed by your doctor. This is extremely useful when a patient takes multiple medications with complicated dosing schedules and dosing regimens. Blister packs are simple to use and can be supplied to you weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on your preference.

  • See at a glance if medication has been taken

  • Simple to use for people of all ages

  • Check when your medication is due

  • Clear instructions to avoid confusion

  • No bulky bottles to cart around or store

  • Discreet and portable. Carry it with you anywhere.

  • A Day’s medication comes in a convenient tear-off strip

  • Reduces the chance of error, overdose or underdose

  • Packs can be formatted to weekly or monthly for your convenience

PRESCITPION SUBSIDY CARDS

You may be eligible for a prescription subsidy card if you receive 20 or more prescriptions items within 12 months (1st FEB-31 JAN). You can combine the number of prescriptions with your family and children under 18years old. A prescription card entitles you to receive funded medicines without paying the standard co-payment after 20 prescriptions items have been collected. 

Speak to one of our pharmacists today to see if you qualify.

BACTERIAL CONJUNCTIVITIS

Some eye infections can be treated by a pharmacist who specific training at Birkdale Pharmacy. 

There are 3 main types of conjunctivitis: ALLERGIC, VIRAL and BACTERIAL

1. Allergic conjunctivitis -is caused by allergies and can be seasonal (occurring at certain times of the year- pollen or grasses). It is not infectious or contagious. 

2. Viral conjunctivitis- this is often caused by the same virus as that causes the common cold. It begins in one eye then affects the other eye with 24-48hrs. It tends to causes a thin watery or white mucus discharge . 

3. Bacterial conjunctivitis- this is caused by a bacterial infection and is common in infants and children. Symptoms include sticky yellow or green discharge- noticeable on waking up. 

-Use makeup pads soaked in water or facecloth to clean the eyes. 

-use artificial tear eye drops from relief or discomfort

-Antibiotic eye drops are not necessary for a mild infection

-In some cases antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be necessary.

HEPATITIS C TREATMENT 

All our pharmacists are AbbVie care accredited which means that we can dispense your Maviret prescription to treat Hepatitis C.

MAVIRET is an 8-week hepatitis C treatment for adults with any of the 6 major types of hepatitis C who have not been treated for hepatitis C before and are without liver scarring (cirrhosis).
MAVIRET is a combination of two medicines, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, that work together to stop the hep C virus from multiplying. MAVIRET belongs to a group of medicines called direct-acting antiviral agents.

What happens if hepatitis C is not treated?


The longer you live with hep C, the more likely you will be to have some sort of liver damage.


The liver performs many vital functions, including removal of waste products, fighting
infection, controlling bleeding, digesting food and storing energy.
If chronic (long-lasting) hep C is untreated, the hep C virus can multiply inside your
liver cells and cause damage. In some cases, after more than 20 years, hep C
damage can lead to cirrhosis (severe scarring), liver failure and sometimes
liver cancer.

Everyone with chronic (long-lasting) hep C should benefit from antiviral treatment.
Not only can getting rid of the virus lower your risk of developing severe liver
disease, but it can also improve your quality of life.
It is important to treat hep C as it is highly contagious and can exist in small amounts
of blood that are too small to see. It is spread when blood from an infected person
enters another person’s bloodstream and can exist in traces of blood outside the
body for up to 3 weeks.


Successful treatment may lower the risk of developing liver failure and
developing liver cancer in people with cirrhosis, and from spreading the virus
to others by blood to blood contact.

bottom of page