Cellulitis

Have you got redness, swelling or pain on an area of your skin that looks infected? You may have Cellulitis. Get urgent care for this common bacterial infection.

cellulitis treatment

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What is Cellulitis (and what causes it)?

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that needs treatment with antibiotics. Without treatment, you could become very ill with the infection spreading rapidly.

While Cellulitis is not infectious, you can easily get it through a break in your skin. The cause of cellulitis are infections through small wounds including:

  • a cut
  • insect or spider bite
  • cracked skin
  • small puncture wound such as a splinter

For small areas of Cellulitis our GPs can give you an oral antibiotic which you can pick up with a prescriton from the pharmacy as you leave.

However, more severe cases of cellulitis, treatment will need IV antibiotics. Unfortunately, if untreated the bacterial infection could turn into Sepsis which can be life threating.

When to get urgent care treatment for Cellulitis bacterial infections

You’ll need to see a doctor urgently if these symptoms of the cellulitis spreading arise:

  • the site of the cellulitis is bigger than a 10 cent coin
  • you’ve noticed the infection spreading quickly
  • you start to feel unwell with a temperature, headache or flu symptoms
  • long term conditions can put you at greater risk ie. Diabetes
It’s a good idea to come in to see a GP over the weekend or at night time if you notice these symptoms of cellulitis. Don’t wait for it to spread.

What are the symptoms of Cellulits

The telltale symptoms of cellulitis include:

  • redness
  • swelling
  • inflammation
  • streaky redness
  • The site of the cellulitis is often on a calf or ankle. That’s often where you might get an insect bite or prickle or a small cut. Also, you might easily scratch an itch with dirty fingernails.
If you spot a small site with some of these symptoms, drawing a line around the circumference and noting the time will help you monitor if it is spreading. 
 
Most importantly, remember the sooner you get antibiotic treatment, the faster you will recover from cellulitis.
East Care Health Medical Centre urgent care Fees

How to contact us

  • 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.

Health care professionals providing advance care plans

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.

We recommend that you plan ahead and request your repeat medicines via your patient portal My Indici two weeks before you run out. If you do not have access to a portal, you can phone us and leave a message with the nurse to organise this. Our doctors use an electronic prescribing system which can send your prescription to your local pharmacy (please specify name and location).
Under 14 years free
14-17 years $14
18+ years $16
Urgent prescription $27.50
The results of tests that have been ordered by our Doctors will be available on My Indici when they have been reviewed. If your test results are of concern you will be contacted by one of our team.

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.

We understand that things can change on the day, but we ask that you call us to advise that you are not able to make your appointment. If we do not hear from you minimum 2 hours prior to your scheduled time, you will receive an invoice for this missed appointment.