"To provide high quality, personal and family / whānau orientated comprehensive, ethical and evidence based primary medical care that continues over time, is anticipatory as well as responsive, and is not limited by the age, sex, orientation, race, religion, or social circumstances of patients, while generating sufficient income to support those services (including appropriate remuneration to staff and GP)."

Definitions: High Quality - means we aim to offer the best available medical advice and management, either within the practice or by referral, without compromise. This necessitates a number of changes, namely: Substandard services have been curtailed, which means prescriptions and certificates are generally no longer provided without a recent face to face (Kanohi ki te kanohi) consultation (which can be brief if there are no complications); Multiple unrelated problems cannot be sorted out if inadequate time has been allowed; In order to keep up to date with "continuing medical education", there may be times when the GP is not available, but emergency cover is always available (even if just the local ED); In order to prevent GP "burnout" it has been decided that he will not work at the practice EVERY Friday, so patients need to avoid waiting until the end of the week for problems. Urgent problems will need to access urgent or Emergency services just like weekends. Providing high quality care may result in higher costs, so please see the affording health costs page if this is an issue. Personal - this means we attend to the needs of an individual, whether it be illness management, health promotion or disease prevention, rather than "population based" factors of ethnicity, residence or income. We do not prejudge (ie show prejudice) because of gender, sexual orientation, race, income, social status or politics. We will even see Health Managers! Family - means we like to be aware of the circumstances of the partners and close relatives of our patients as our understanding of an individual's health is aided by knowledge of the infectious, genetic, dietary, social, religious, psychological and financial conditions of their family. Whānau - the extended family is important in many cultures and its rôle in Māori health is recognised, HOWEVER, I believe that each individual must take responsibility for their own health (and that of their children) if they wish to enjoy long-term health. We aim to have each individual regain control of their own health and wellbeing. Comprehensive - means we are able to provide, either directly or by referral, every medical service that is both ethical and evidence based. Note that not all of these services are available in the public sector, and that it is a fact of life that some medical services are expensive, so it pays to consider how you can afford good medical care. Ethical - means while recognising patients may have different sets of values, staff do have personal and professional moral codes on which we will not be compromised. We will protect information told in confidence but will not support dishonesty; we will support patients despite poor life choices but will not reinforce those choices and there are some services we don't provide, support or even refer which are illegal, unethical or unproven. These are described further here. Evidence based - means that there is clear published peer reviewed scientific evidence to support the advice or management. Where this is lacking or equivocal, it will be made clear that hard evidence doesn't exist. Primary Medical Care - this refers to the professional medical health services and advice available to keep you well, manage your illnesses outside hospital and to help identify those situations and conditions requiring urgent or planned access to secondary (hospital) services.