Headaches
While headaches are often a part of life, sometimes they can be an indicator of serious illness. Find out when you might need see our Howick urgent care team for severe or worrying headaches.
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When does a headache need urgent care?
Sometimes headaches can come on suddenly and give us severe pain. If you are prone to migraine headaches, it might be time to take your medication. However, if you haven’t experienced a severe headache before it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Concerning headache Symptoms include:
- visual disturbances
- dizziness
- weakness in limbs
- confusion
- impairment of slurring of speech
- sensitivity to light and noise
It’s important to get properly and urgently assessed because there is potential for something more serious to be the cause.
What could a severe headache symptoms indicate?
Typically, we expect a headache to be due to tension or a common illness, including influenza.
Most headaches will pass with home first aid, but to be safe, our GPs will rule out any conditions that would need emergency care. These include:
- Concussion from a knock to the head or an accident
- sinus infection
- hormonal headaches with PMT
- migraine headaches
- diabetes
- hypertension for high blood pressure
- viral infections such as Covid-19 or meningitis
- Strokes
So, err on the side of caution with a severe headache. But, on the other hand, if unrelieved with regular headache first aid rehydration, rest and paracetamol, pop in to see us.
Home first aid for tension headaches
- Ensure you are adequately hydrated with water
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Get some sleep or have a rest
- Take some time to breathe gently and assess your current stress
- Turn down lights and ambient sound
- If you are a caffeine drinker, consider if you missed a coffee or tea, which might make you feel unwell without your usual caffeine.
- Check your temperature to see if you might be coming down with a viral illness.
- Try a cool gel compress or cold flannel on your brow
If your child has a headache, first aid and monitoring are essential.
Be sure to monitor their temperature, look for any rash, or assess if they have a stiff neck. It’s good to rule out severe illnesses like meningitis or measles.
If pain persists, call or come to the clinic for urgent care or see the pharmacist in our Howick health hub.
How to contact us
- Email info@eastcare.co.nz
- Phone number (09) 277 1516
- Fax (09) 277 1515
- Address: 260 Botany Road, Howick 2013, Auckland
- Postal: PO Box 38306, Howick 2145, Auckland
Complementary onsite services
At our Botany Road premises, we offer a number of onsite services including a Pharmacy and Radiology to ensure your visit to the Centre is as stress free as possible.
Pre-register online before you arrive
Pre-registering saves you time in check-in.
Frequently asked questions
To join our clinic, you first need to fill out the patient enrolment forms to register with the PHO that we belong to. This is a Ministry of Health requirement. You will need to provide proof of identity and eligibility which may include the following forms of identification:
- NZ Passport or NZ birth certificate
- International passport with resident visa OR work visa of minimum 24-month duration
On the enrolment form you need to indicate which of our doctors (currently taking new patients) that you would like to be registered with.
Yes. As part of completing your enrollment, we request that you have a new patient screening appointment with one of our Nursing or Medical Centre Assistant team members.
This new patient appointment enables our team to work with you to better understand your current health and wellbeing.
Following the new patient appointment as above, you can book your first consultation with your nominated doctor.
The length of your first appointment with your new doctor will be as follows:
| Age | Screening appointment | GP appointment | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-13 yrs | - | 15 minutes Free | 15 minutes Free |
| 13-17 yrs | - | 15 minutes $13.00 | 15 minutes $13.00 |
| 18-39 yrs | 15 minutes $10.00 | 15 minutes* $19.50 | 30 minutes $29.50 |
| 40+ yrs | 15 minutes $10.00 | 30 minutes $39.00 | 45 minutes $49.00 |
* Note: if you have a chronic condition, please make a booking for 30 minutes.
Payment is required at the time of consultation
You will get full access to the patient portal “My Indici” once you have completed your screening appointment.
Payment is required at time of consultation. Please note that unpaid accounts will incur an additional $10 monthly administration cost.
There may be additional costs for treatments/tests/materials
We recommend that you book your future appointments via your patient portal My Indici.
If you need an urgent appointment, then please phone the clinic. We have doctors available to discuss your urgent health needs on the day.
All consultations are by appointment only.
Patient portals are secure online sites where patients can access their health information and interact with their general practice. Please give us call on (09) 265 1325 or send us an email at info@ormistonmedical.co.nz, and we can set up your account.
14-17 years $14
18+ years $16
Urgent prescription $27.50
We are open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm.
For health services after hours visit East Care Accident & Medical, 260 Botany Road, Golflands, Auckland 2013. Their phone is 09 277 1516.
These are consultation prices only.
Under 14 Years - Free 14 - 17 years - $14 18 years & over - $16
Note charge is the same for in person or by phone or video as you are still receiving the same high quality health provider assessment, diagnosis and planning.