Pinnacle works with general practices, providers and communities across Te Manawa Taki to help improve access to care and health outcomes. We support a network of general practices and community health providers across Waikato, Taranaki, Tairāwhiti and Lakes.

Primary healthcare is the care you receive in your community, usually through your general practice. This is where most people go for everyday health care, advice, treatment, check-ups, prescriptions, referrals and ongoing support.

Your general practice is more than just a doctor. It may include GPs, nurse practitioners, practice nurses, health care assistants, social workers, pharmacists, health improvement practitioners and other team members working together to support you and your whānau.



For many people, primary healthcare is where care begins and often where it continues over time. If you need specialist or hospital care, your general practice will usually help coordinate that too.

Enrolling with a general practice helps you build an ongoing relationship with a health care team that knows you and your health history over time, not just the issue that brought you in that day.


It can also mean:

Enrolling with a general practice helps you build an ongoing relationship with a health care team that knows you and your health history over time, not just the issue that brought you in that day.



It can also mean:

• lower fees for many services
• better access to follow-up care
• reminders for checks, screening and immunisations

Your general practice also keeps your health record, which helps make sure your care is connected and informed.

A GP is a general practitioner — a doctor trained to care for people of all ages and with a wide range of health concerns.



GPs are skilled in diagnosing and treating many different conditions, from everyday illnesses and injuries through to mental health concerns and long-term conditions. They also know when you need further tests, a specialist opinion or hospital care.



Many people have a long-term relationship with their GP, which can help them receive more joined-up, whole-person care over time.

When you enrol with a general practice, you are also enrolled with a primary health organisation, or PHO. PHOs help organise and fund primary care services in the community. This funding helps support access to care, keep fees lower in many cases, and fund services such as immunisation, health checks and support for long-term conditions.



Pinnacle Midlands Health Network supports more than 85 general practices across Waikato, Taranaki, Tairāwhiti and Lakes.

Virtual care means receiving care without going into your practice in person.



Depending on your practice and your needs, this might include:

• secure messages through a patient portal
• phone calls
• video appointments
• email or other online contact

Virtual care can be a helpful option for some appointments, especially if you live rurally, have a long way to travel to your general practice, need care after hours, or have other barriers that make getting to care more difficult.

A patient portal is a secure online service offered by many general practices. Depending on your practice, a portal may let you:

• book appointments
• request repeat prescriptions
• see test results
• check your medications and allergies
• update your personal details
• receive reminders
• send secure messages to your care team
• view parts of your health record

Some portal services may not be available at every practice, and some may involve a fee.

Your practice and the PHO collect the information needed to support your care, manage enrolment and meet funding requirements. 



This may include:

• personal details such as your name, date of birth, address, gender and NHI number
• information about your health
• information about the services you receive
• information related to consultation charges and payments

Your information must be kept accurate, up to date and relevant to your care.

You have the right to:

• access your health information
• ask for it to be corrected if it is wrong
• ask who has seen or updated it, where that information is available
• raise concerns if you are unhappy with how your information has been handled

If you want access to your record, speak to your practice. Many practices also offer portal access to parts of your record.

If you visit a practice that is not your usual one, you may be asked for permission to share information from your regular practice so the team looking after you has the information they need. If you have a High User Health Card or Community Services Card and visit another practice, the practice you are enrolled with may be told the date of that visit and the reason for it, unless you withhold consent.

If you are unhappy with any part of your care or how your information has been handled, start by talking to your general practice. You can also find information about raising concerns or making a complaint through the appropriate health and disability complaints processes.