CP
Dr Caroline Phung
GP & Practice Owner
MBChB, Dip Child and Women's Health, FRNZCGP
Caroline took over the practice with Marc and has a particular interest in child and women's health.
Welcome
A family centred practice
Important notice
Christmas reminder
Just a reminder to you all that if you are requiring medication for over the Christmas and New Year period — please order your scripts today.
We are closed from 12 noon on Thursday 24 December 2026, re-opening on Tuesday 5 January 2027.
If you need medical help while we are closed, please see after-hours care.
Information sharing
We are joining HealthOne
Please note that this organisation is contributing to, and accessing healthcare information from HealthOne.
What is HealthOne?
HealthOne is a secure electronic record that allows registered health care professionals directly involved in your healthcare to quickly access information such as your test results, allergies, medications, GP summaries and hospital information.
HealthOne adheres to the principles of the Privacy Act 2020 as well as the Rules set out in the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. Access is only possible via an approved highly secure healthcare information network which is regularly audited and tested. Privacy auditing is used to check that only those directly involved in your care are accessing your information.
To find out more about HealthOne please visit healthone.org.nz.
You are entitled to restrict the sharing of your healthcare records by contacting 0508 837 872 or emailing privacy@healthone.health.nz.
We offer a full range of general practice services to you and your whānau, and we partner with Practice Plus to provide virtual GP appointments as an extension of our regular team.
We are not able to take new patients at this time. We are sorry — we know this is frustrating, and we will update this page if that changes.
If you are already enrolled with us, please check the News page regularly to keep up to date with what is happening at 169.
Manage My Health
We use Manage My Health to send you results and to take requests for repeats of your regular medications. If you haven't signed up yet, it is the quickest way to deal with us.
We also contribute to and access HealthOne, a secure shared record used by health professionals involved in your care. Read the HealthOne statement.
Booking with us
Appointments
If you are unwell and need to be seen urgently
Please call us first. We keep appointments free each day for people who are unwell. One of our nurses will talk with you and, depending on what you need, will book you an urgent appointment with a GP, see you as a nurse appointment, give advice over the phone, or direct you to Practice Plus, City Doctors or the Emergency Department.
We do not run a walk-in clinic. Please only come to the clinic if you have an appointment. This keeps care safe for you and for the people who are booked in.
Cold, flu or respiratory symptoms
Please tell us when you book. So that we can keep other patients and our staff safe, we may offer you a phone consult, see you in a side room, or see you in the back carpark.
Routine appointments and repeat medications
Please book your appointment while you still have at least two weeks' supply of medication left. That way you won't run out before you can be seen.
If we have asked you to have a blood test, see blood tests and samples for where to go.
Repeat prescriptions can be requested through Manage My Health. Fees for prescriptions are on the Fees page.
After your appointment
Blood tests and samples
You do not need an appointment for a blood test at the lab, and in most cases you do not need to bring a paper form — we send your request to the laboratory electronically. Just go to any collection centre below. Tell them your name and date of birth.
In Palmerston North
-
Medlab Central — The Palms
445 Ferguson Street, behind The Palms Medical Centre
(06) 952 3220
Monday to Friday 7:30am – 5:45pm
Saturday 8:30am – 10:45am -
Medlab Central — Palmerston North Hospital
First floor, Clinical Services Block. Use the Ruahine Street main entrance.
(06) 952 3180
Monday to Friday 8:00am – 3:45pm
The Palms is the only local collection centre open on a Saturday morning.
Elsewhere in Manawātū and Whanganui
Hours at these sites vary, so please phone ahead or check the Medlab Central website before you travel.
- Feilding Health Care
7 Duke Street, Feilding — (06) 323 9696 - Kauri HealthCare
619 Featherston Street, Palmerston North — (06) 357 4424 - Medlab Central — Whanganui Hospital
100 Heads Road, Whanganui — (06) 348 1270 - Medlab Central — Horowhenua Hospital
62 Liverpool Street, Levin — (06) 368 5233
Who you'll see
Our team
Our doctors
LL
Dr Larry Loo
GP
MBBS, Dip Obst, FRNZCGP
Larry has looked after families at 169 for many years.
MvdH
Dr Marc van den Heever
GP & Practice Owner
MBChB, FRNZCGP, BSc, BCA
Marc graduated from the University of Auckland in 2016. He was a general surgical registrar in Auckland and Palmerston North before moving into general practice.
EC
Dr Elizabeth Coster
GP & Practice Owner
MBChB, BCom (Hons), OLY
Elizabeth graduated from the University of Auckland in 2016.
GL
Dr George Lin
GP
MBChB, FRNZCGP
George is the newest member of the 169 team.
MY
Dr Michael Yee
GP
Retired
Dr Yee has now retired. We wish him all the best in his retirement!
Our nursing team
Our nursing team has grown, and the way our nurses work has changed a little as a result. When you phone, or when you come in for a nurse appointment, it may be with any of our nurses.
B
Bayley
Registered Nurse Prescriber
C
Carole
Registered Nurse
D
Donna
Registered Nurse
M
Melody
Registered Nurse
S
Sue
Registered Nurse
Reception and administration
J
Joanne
Practice Manager
S
Sharon
Receptionist
L
Leeann
Medical Typist and Receptionist
Prices current as at 7 September 2026
Consultation and service fees
Consultations cost less if you hold a Community Services Card. Check whether you are eligible — we also have application forms at reception.
Good to know
- Missed appointments. If you do not attend and have not let us know, you will be charged $30.
- Follow-up appointments. A follow-up appointment is charged at a 50% reduction on the usual consultation fee.
- Double appointments. If you ask for a double appointment with the doctor, this is charged as a double consultation.
- Forms. Forms the doctor completes without seeing you — disability forms, insurance forms, requests for a specialist referral — are charged at $25.00.
- Phone triage. If your GP or nurse organises forms, scripts, medical certificates or referrals by phone, there is a charge.
- Appointment length. GP fees are based on a 15-minute appointment. Longer appointments may cost more.
What's happening at 169
Practice news
Our latest patient newsletter
Open the PDFEarlier newsletters
When we are closed
After-hours care
In an emergency, call 111
For chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or if someone is unresponsive, call 111 immediately or go to the Emergency Department at Palmerston North Hospital.
Advice and treatment
- Healthline — 0800 611 116
Free health advice from nurses and other healthcare providers, any time of the day or night. More about Healthline - Practice Plus (telehealth)
Video and phone appointments with a GP outside our hours. Practice Plus - Urgent care
For injuries and illnesses that can't wait until we reopen. Urgent care options - After-hours pharmacy
Pharmacy opening hours
Mental health
MidCentral Mental Health Crisis Team
0800 653 357 — available 24 hours.
You can also free call or text 1737 any time to talk with a trained counsellor.
Emergency Department
Palmerston North Hospital, 50 Ruahine Street. Emergency care
Trusted information
Health links
These sites give information, not medical care. If you need help now, phone us on (06) 357 0437, call Healthline on 0800 611 116, or call 111 in an emergency.
Screening
- Time to Screen
The national breast, bowel and cervical screening programmes, explained in plain language — who is eligible, and what each test involves. - Cervical screening — 0800 729 729
Screening is now an HPV test, and for most people it can be done as a simple swab you do yourself. Ask us about it at your next visit. - Bowel screening — 0800 924 432
Free, done at home, and posted to you when you become eligible. Call to check you are on the register. - Kupe
Helps you or a whānau member decide whether to have a prostate check.
Everyday health information
- Healthify
New Zealand’s go-to site for trusted, plain-language health information and self-help resources. - Paracetamol dose calculator
Work out a safe dose, from Healthify. - Immunisation Advisory Centre
Independent, factual information about vaccines and the National Immunisation Schedule. Freephone 0800 466 863 on weekdays. - Quitline
Free help to stop smoking or vaping, 24 hours a day. Call 0800 778 778 or text 4006. We can also talk with you about stop-smoking medicines.
Mental health and wellbeing
If you are struggling, please make an appointment — this is very much what we are here for. In the meantime these are free and available to anyone.
- Need to talk? Free call or text 1737
A trained counsellor, any time of the day or night. - depression.org.nz
Information about depression and anxiety, and The Journal, a free online self-help programme. - Small Steps
Short online tools for calming your mind, managing stress and lifting your mood. - Alcohol Drug Helpline
Free, confidential advice about your own or someone else’s drinking or drug use. Call 0800 787 797 or free text 8681.
If you need help urgently, see after-hours care.
Your rights
- Nationwide Health & Disability Advocacy Service
Free and independent of us. An advocate can answer questions about your rights or help you raise a concern about any health service, including ours. Freephone 0800 555 050. - The Code of Rights
The ten rights everyone has when using a health or disability service in New Zealand, from the Health & Disability Commissioner. - Our privacy statement
How we collect, use and protect your health information, and how to see or correct your records.
Finding services and support
- Medlab Central
Our laboratory. Collection centre locations and hours across the region — see also our own blood tests page. - Healthpoint
Find pharmacies, urgent care and specialist services near you, with their current opening hours. - PlunketLine — 0800 933 922
Free advice for parents and caregivers about your child’s health and wellbeing, 24 hours a day. - Community Services Card
Check whether you are eligible for cheaper visits. We also have application forms at reception.
Think Hauora
Think Hauora is the Primary Health Organisation (PHO) for the MidCentral community. About Think Hauora
Getting hold of us
Contact and hours
Contact details
- Phone
(06) 357 0437 — 8:30am to 5:00pm weekdays - Email
reception@169medical.co.nz - Fax
(06) 357 4122 - HealthLink EDI
drlooyee - Address
169 Russell Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4414
Your information
Privacy statement
169 Medical Centre is committed to protecting the privacy and wellbeing of patients and whānau. We recognise the importance of protecting personal and health information and manage this with the utmost care and respect.
How we collect and use your information
We collect, use, store and disclose health information in accordance with the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, comply with Information Privacy Principle (IPP) 3A (indirect collection of personal information), and relevant New Zealand privacy legislation. Information is collected to support the provision of safe, high-quality healthcare, the effective management of our services, and to meet our legal and professional obligations.
Sharing your information
Your health information will only be shared with authorised health professionals and organisations directly involved in your care with your consent, or if authorised by law.
Information we receive from other agencies
Your health information is also collected from other agencies involved in your healthcare and may be shared with us. This is to support your ongoing care and treatment. These agencies, such as other health providers, social services, education providers, whānau and caregivers, or government agencies are required to let you know when they share that information with others. Examples of indirect collection include but are not limited to specialist reports, lab results, Think Hauora programme referrals, mental health and social services, medications, discharge summaries, screening programmes and immunisations.
HealthOne
Please note that this organisation is contributing to, and accessing healthcare information from HealthOne.
What is HealthOne?
HealthOne is a secure electronic record that allows registered health care professionals directly involved in your healthcare to quickly access information such as your test results, allergies, medications, GP summaries and hospital information.
HealthOne adheres to the principles of the Privacy Act 2020 as well as the Rules set out in the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. Access is only possible via an approved highly secure healthcare information network which is regularly audited and tested. Privacy auditing is used to check that only those directly involved in your care are accessing your information.
To find out more about HealthOne please visit healthone.org.nz.
You are entitled to restrict the sharing of your healthcare records by contacting 0508 837 872 or emailing privacy@healthone.health.nz.
After-hours care with Practice Plus
We partner with Practice Plus to provide after-hours and urgent care consultations for our patients. Practice Plus clinicians can access your relevant health records held by us to support continuity of care. Practice Plus handles your health information in line with the Health Information Privacy Code 2020. You can read their privacy policy at practiceplus.nz/privacy-policy.