Can you take pain relief before seeing a Doctor? Yes you can!
Often when an urgent visit to a doctor is needed, the problem or condition can be very uncomfortable. This could include an injury to yourself or your child; or an illness during which you experience a sore throat or headache, or a high fever, making you feel absolutely miserable.
It is understandable that you hesitate to “mask” the symptoms, and strong medications can indeed risk this; BUT it is always safe, acceptable and desirable to take the recommended dose of Paracetamol before you come to see us.
Just remember to tell our triage nurse what dose you have already taken; or given to your child and the time it was taken. If possible, keep a note of the temperature you recorded before the medicine was given and give our nurse this information.
Serious conditions will still be reliably diagnosed and the whole experience of being assessed, waiting to see the doctor and then moving about during a thorough examination, will be much less painful and stressful e.g. a sprained ankle or thumb needs to be pulled in various ways to assess the damaged ligament to find out if the joint is still stable; a small feverish child needs their ears checked and will be frightened if the ear is very painful.
Even if the problem turns out to serious and you are told you should be “nil by mouth”; because you may need surgery, taking Paracetamol will not delay your treatment.
Please stick to the recommended dose and do not take it more frequently than every 4 hours.
Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo
Neighbourhood locals are invited to the Auckland Seniors & Travel Expo, a relaxed and welcoming event bringing lifestyle, leisure, and travel together under one roof. Meet 50+ exhibitors showcasing travel ideas, retirement living, mobility solutions, health services, finance, and local clubs. Enjoy live music from Kulios, café seating, door prizes, and be in to win a Luxury Beachfront Escape for Two to Rarotonga.
North Harbour Stadium
28 February & 1 March
10:00am – 3:00pm
$10 entry
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.3% Human-centred experience and communication
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15% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
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