Holiday and Planned Leave Policy

To provide thoughtful, sustainable, and high quality care, I work within clearly defined availability boundaries. This allows me to show up fully for my patients while also honouring family commitments and ongoing professional development.

General availability

My care pathways and packages are designed to support continuity of care, but they do not imply 24/7 availability. Support is provided within agreed clinical hours and through the structure of your chosen pathway.

If you require urgent medical care outside these hours, please contact your GP, local after-hours service, or emergency services as appropriate.

School holidays and festive periods

As a parent, my availability is reduced during New Zealand school holidays, as well as over the Christmas and New Year period.

During these times:

• Appointment availability may be limited
• Response times to non-urgent messages may be longer
• Routine follow ups may be paused or rescheduled

These periods will be clearly communicated in advance via my website and newsletter.

Planned leave for professional and personal development

To ensure I continue to offer evidence-informed, up-to-date, and reflective care, I reserve one full week each quarter for professional and personal development.

This time may include further training, supervision, strategic planning, or rest. During these weeks:

• No appointments will be scheduled
• Non-urgent communication will be paused
• Urgent issues should be directed to your GP or appropriate acute      services

All planned leave will be announced well in advance.

Communication and notice

All holiday periods and planned leave will be:

• Published on this website
• Shared via my newsletter
• Reflected in appointment availability where possible

I strongly encourage patients to plan ahead, especially if you are on a structured care pathway.

Why this matters

This approach allows me to practise in a way that is ethical, present, and sustainable, which ultimately benefits patient care. Clear boundaries help ensure that when I am working, I am fully available, focused, and engaged.

If you have questions about how this applies to your specific pathway, please feel free to raise this during your appointment.

Yours in Health, Dr Zuzi