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Bates Pharmacy

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    Pharmacists can help to support the health of your family; they can provide advice and treatment for common minor illnesses for all ages.

    Pharmacists ensure that prescriptions are dispensed correctly and that the medicine and dose is appropriate for you, so that you receive the maximum benefits from your medicines. Your pharmacist will help you understand what your medicines are prescribed for, how to take them, possible side effects and how to store them.

    All advice and treatment is conducted in a professional and confidential manner and most services are provided free of charge and do not generally require an appointment.

    For safe disposal, please return any expired or unwanted medicines, or needles/lancets and syringes to your pharmacy. There is no charge for this service.

    Dedicated customer car park at the back entrance. Wheelchair and mobility scooter access from front and back entrances.

    Please phone the pharmacy for local delivery service assistance.

    Daily courier service running to Catlins Health & Gifts from Bates pharmacy

    Free trial currently available on Medico Blister packaging. 

    COVID-19 Vaccination

    • Pfizer vaccine (12+ years) OR Pfizer booster (16+ years)
    • Child Pfizer vaccine (5-11 years)
    • Anyone currently eligible can access
    • Make an appointment
    • No appointment required
    • Walk in

    Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is an important step you can take to protect yourself, your kaumātua and whānau from the effects of the virus. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines and eligibility visit Ministry of Health - COVID-19 vaccines

    Covid-19 vaccines can be administered before, after, or at the same time as other national schedule vaccines. When the Nuvaxovid vaccine is given at the same time as the Shingrix shingles vaccine or the Fluad Quad flu vaccine, there may be a chance of experiencing a stronger post-vaccination response and you should discuss this with your vaccinator.

    Services Provided

    Special Assistance Support (COVID-19 Vaccination)

    If you would like additional support or assistance at your vaccine appointment, you can let us know when you book your slot.

    Service types

    • Support to make decisions
    • Quiet, low sensory environment
    • Wheelchair access
    Immunisation

    Immunisation is the safest and most effective way to provide protection for you and your tamariki’s health. For more information view the NZ immunisation schedule.

    Service types

    • Adult flu vaccine
    • Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
    • Shingles vaccine
    • 65 year old vaccinations
    • 45 year old vaccinations
    • Pregnancy vaccinations
    Clozapine dispensing

    It is very important that you receive regular blood tests while you are taking clozapine and these will be organised through your prescribing healthcare professional. We will check your blood tests to make sure the appropriate dose of clozapine is dispensed for you.

    Blood testing for warfarin user

    Warfarin is used by some people as a blood thinning medicine e.g. after a stroke. It is important that blood results are regularly checked. This service involves having a quick test (finger prick) in the pharmacy to work out the correct dose. This saves you a trip to your local laboratory and waiting for your blood test to be processed.

    Free prescriptions for eligible people on your fully funded medicines

    From July 1st 2024 funded medicine prescriptions will have a $5 charge (non-funded medicine prescriptions will have additional charges).

    Prescriptions for fully funded medicines are free for people:

    • aged 13 years or under
    • aged 65 years and older
    • of any age that have a community services card (CSC) and their dependent children (14-17 years old).
    • that hold a Prescription Subsidy Card (PSC).
    View the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website for more detailed information on prescription costs.
    Medication for long term conditions

    This service is designed for people with long-term illnesses who may need support with their medicines. An assessment is used to identify the things that affect their ability to take medication as prescribed. Pharmacists work together with the patient to address each issue. The pharmacist is able to assist you with managing your medications and can coordinate your medications so that your prescription repeats happen all at the same time and therefore require only one trip to have your prescriptions refilled. They can also provide you with a reminder service (via text message, email or phone call) to let you know when your next supply of medications is ready for collection. If you are having difficulties managing your medicines (e.g. forgetting to take them), please ask your pharmacist whether this service is right for you.

    Opioid Substitution Treatment Service

    This pharmacy works alongside the DHB Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) programme. Pharmacy staff can administer methadone or Suboxone on a daily, or a takeaway basis, depending on what has been agreed.

    Stop smoking medication

    Pharmacy staff are trained to provide a service to help people to stop smoking. This service includes advice and providing quit smoking support aids e.g. nicotine gum.

    Medication reports

    If you require reports on your medicines or the cost of your medicines please ask a member of the pharmacy team.

    Medicines packaging

    This pharmacy can repack your medicines into compliance packaging (blister packs or sachet rolls) that specifies when you should take them. These can be supplied as weekly or monthly packs depending on your needs. This type of packaging can help you to take your medicine at the right time. It can also make it easier to see if you have missed a dose or are running out. It is useful if you are travelling as it avoids having to take multiple containers.

    Mobility equipment
    This pharmacy offers a range of hire or purchase medical equipment to aid with mobility, such as wheelchairs, walkers or walking sticks.
    Emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) | Morning after pill

    Your pharmacists are trained to assess whether the ECP is appropriate for you. This is done in a confidential manner. The ECP works best if taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse but may be taken up to 72 hours after. There is usually a charge associated with receiving the ECP, although at some pharmacies the ECP may be provided fully funded for eligible people.

    Incontinence products
    This pharmacy offers a range of incontinence products and can assist you in selecting the most suitable to help you manage loss of bladder control.
    Medicine and needles disposal service

    Unwanted medicines are often dumped into the toilet, tipped down the sink or put out with the garbage, which starts a journey that can seriously harm the environment. Please return any expired or unwanted medicines, or needles/lancets and syringes to your pharmacy. In doing so, we can make our home a safer place, help safeguard our community and protect our environment. There is no charge for this service.

    Medication for erection problem

    This pharmacy has specially trained pharmacists who are able to prescribe sildenafil (also called Viagra®, Vedafil® and Silvasta®) for erectile dysfunction in men aged 35 – 70 years who meet specific assessment criteria.

    UTI – Urinary tract infection treatment

    This pharmacy has trained pharmacists who can supply the antibiotics nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim for urinary tract infections. These are available without a prescription to women between 16 and 65 years of age, who are not pregnant and do not have any other complicating factors. The pharmacist will complete a consultation to make sure the medicine is appropriate and refer you to the GP if required.

    COVID-19 antiviral medicine (with prescription)

    View the Ministry of Health website for information about COVID-19 antiviral medicine and who is eligible. Paxlovid is the only provided antiviral in New Zealand.

    You will need a prescription from your doctor or nurse to receive the medication.

    Service types

    • This pharmacy can deliver the medicine to your home free of charge
    COVID-19 antiviral medicine (pharmacist prescribes and dispenses)

    View the Ministry of Health website for information about COVID-19 antiviral medicine and who is eligible. Paxlovid is the only provided antiviral in New Zealand.

    To receive the medication please call and talk to the pharmacist first, either immediately after you test positive or develop symptoms, to see if the medicines are right for you.

    Service types

    • This pharmacy can deliver the medicine to your home free of charge
    HIV PrEP and PEP dispensing (same day or by pre-order)

    Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) are medications to prevent HIV in people who are HIV-negative and at high risk of being exposed to HIV. View the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa website for more information about PrEP and PEP.

    A prescription will be required from your doctor or health provider.

    If you need to receive your HIV PrEP or PEP medicines the same day you present your prescription, please contact our pharmacy to check if we can have stock available.

    How do I access this service?

    • Anyone can access

    Disability Assistance

    • Provision for wheelchair access
    • Provision of mobility parking space