Q Medical Weight Loss Clinic – One Year Anniversary Newsletter
- bysharynr
- Jul 3, 2025
- 7 min read
In this edition:
A Message from Dr Gerard McQuinlan
Celebrating One Year of QMed Clinic’s Leadership in Community Obesity Care
Dear Valued Patient,
One year ago, we opened the doors to QMed Clinic with a bold and compassionate mission: to provide frontline, medical care for people living with obesity, delivered right in the community where it’s needed most. At the time, there was no model like it in New Zealand. Now, one year on, hundreds of lives have been touched, changed, and empowered by that vision.
We have seen patients lose significant weight—and keep it off for the first time in their lives. But the results go far beyond the scale. We’ve witnessed improvements in sleep, mobility, blood pressure, confidence, and mental wellbeing. Patients have stopped or reduced medications and overall have recognised what life is like without the burden of Obesity. Many have said to me that “they wished they could have done this 10 years ago”
I continue to enhance my knowledge and skills through attending regular meetings (almost every 2 weeks), in the Obesity field. This is an emerging field of medicine, and I am glad to be among the first practitioners to take up this role in New Zealand.
I have personally found this new role to be most rewarding and as a long-term GP, am amazed at the health improvements that I have seen in many of you.
💊 Wegovy® Launching July 1st – A Medical Milestone in Obesity Care
Wegovy® (semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) is one of the most significant breakthroughs in obesity treatment in decades. Approved by Medsafe NZ and available from 1 July 2025, Wegovy provides more than double the average weight loss of Saxenda, with major additional benefits:
~15-20% body weight reduction on average
20% reduction in heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death
Improvements in mood, sleep, alcohol cravings, cognitive function, and kidney health
At QMed Clinic, we are proud to be one of the first clinics in New Zealand to prescribe Wegovy. But with powerful new medications come responsibilities.
These medications must be prescribed only by clinicians trained in obesity medicine. Our team of GPs and nurse practitioners have advanced knowledge in how to use these medications safely and effectively.
All patients must undergo a thorough obesity consultation—by phone or in person—before Wegovy can be prescribed. This ensures safe initiation, correct dosing, and comprehensive follow-up care.
Expansion into Hospital-Based Obesity Care
QMed Clinic Expands into Secondary and Tertiary Care
Obesity is often a hidden factor that complicates treatment across nearly every branch of medicine—from orthopaedics and cardiology to sleep medicine and gastroenterology.
QMed Clinic is stepping into the hospital setting to ensure patients with obesity get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
Strategic Growth: Leading Obesity Care at the McMurray Centre
QMed Clinic has been appointed as clinical lead in a new Obesity Care Service at the McMurray Centre, Tauranga’s dedicated bariatric surgery hub. We’re collaborating with:
Dr Sunny Veraapen, Consultant Gastroenterologist
Dr Ritesh Patel, Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon
This partnership will allow patients to access truly integrated, specialist obesity care—before, during, and after surgery. QMed Clinic will ensure that patients are well prepared medically, supported nutritionally, and cared for emotionally.
This service sets a new national benchmark for collaborative obesity care, and we’re honoured to lead it. We hope that this will set the new standard of care for private bariatric surgeries and endoscopic bariatric treatments.
Watch this space for more future developments…
🤝 New Clinical Collaborations
Expanding Our Holistic Obesity Care Model
Lasting success in weight loss requires more than medication or surgery—it requires a holistic model that respects the whole person: their biology, psychology, lifestyle, and support systems.
To this end, QMed Clinic has developed key partnerships that expand our wraparound care:
Spotlight on Hassan – 15th Ave Unichem Pharmacy, Tauranga
QMed Clinic is proud to have a strong and trusted partnership with Hassan, lead pharmacist at Unichem 15th Avenue Pharmacy in Tauranga. From the outset, Hassan has played an integral role in supporting our patients with expert advice and pharmaceutical care specific to obesity treatment.
Hassan takes the time to counsel patients thoroughly on the use of medications—whether GLP-1 receptor agonists or appetite suppressants—ensuring they understand how to use them correctly, safely, and confidently. Importantly, he is also available to respond to questions during the course of treatment, offering an extra layer of support between clinic reviews.
Having a pharmacist who is knowledgeable and experienced in obesity medicine significantly enhances the patient experience at QMed Clinic. We are privileged to work alongside Hassan and view him as a key part of the QMed Clinic team.
• EPPT (Ezra Pooley)
Ezra is a clinical exercise physiologist and personal trainer who works with individuals living with obesity and chronic conditions. His expertise helps patients regain movement safely and rebuild strength. For many, this is the first time in years they’ve been able to move without pain or fear.He leads a team of Personal Trainers that provide not only in-gym training, but has a well developed Online delivery Model that some of our patients have already signed up for. If you would like to know more about this, then let us know and we can arrange referral.
• Anna Summerfield – Sana Nutrition
Anna is a specialist dietitian with extensive experience in bariatric and medical weight loss care. Her approach is non-judgmental, highly personalised, and rooted in real-world challenges. She supports patients on medications like Saxenda/Wegovy and those preparing for or recovering from surgery.
Again, if you would like a referral to Anna, then reach out to us and we can complete a referral to her.
🔗 Why These Partnerships Matter
Obesity affects every part of a person’s life—so treatment must involve more than one discipline.
Exercise physiology supports patients to regain function, improve energy, and reduce the risks of inactivity-related complications
Dietetic support helps patients create realistic and sustainable eating strategies that support health and weight goals
Psychological support, which we continue to build, addresses emotional eating, stress, trauma, and motivation (We are currently assessing psychologist referrals)
Hospital integration ensures continuity of care before and after surgery, across all levels of the health system
At QMed Clinic, we are building a care model that reflects the true nature of obesity—chronic, complex, and deeply human.
In-Person Consultations vs Telephone Reviews – What’s the Difference?
At QMed Clinic, we offer both in-person and telephone consultations to meet your needs. Each format has benefits, but we encourage patients to consider the value of coming in for face-to-face reviews when possible.
The key advantage of an in-person consultation is the opportunity to undergo a body composition scan. This scan is an important component of a comprehensive obesity assessment, allowing us to detect visceral adiposity and monitor body fat, muscle mass, and metabolic health over time. Many patients who attend in person benefit from seeing measurable improvements not visible on standard scales alone.
Initial telephone consultations, on the other hand, are based on the detailed pre-consultation questionnaire you complete. While these are convenient and clinically valuable, they do not include a physical examination or impedance scan.
Likewise, for follow-up appointments, telephone consultations are convenient and allow us to monitor progress, review results, and adjust treatment plans as needed, however they do not include in-person assessments or scanning.
In summary, while telephone consults offer accessibility and support, in-person visits provide a richer clinical picture, especially when it comes to tracking progress through body composition analysis.
💬 From Our Practice Manager – Therese Turek
As Practice Manager at QMed Clinic, this first year has been both dynamic and deeply rewarding. From day one, our focus has been on creating a service that is not only clinically excellent, but also genuinely supportive and accessible.
It has been my great joy and privilege to walk alongside our patients on their weight and health journeys—helping them navigate care with empathy and practical support.
Behind the scenes, I’ve worked closely with the team to build systems that support sustainable growth – supporting our clinicians, coordinating care, and ensuring the clinic runs smoothly as demand increases. It’s been exciting to see QMed Clinic evolve into a thriving, busy service, forming strong relationships across general practice, pharmacies, and now hospital teams.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far—and even more excited about what’s ahead. We’re not just delivering care; we’re helping to shift how obesity is understood and treated in Aotearoa. Here’s to a strong first year—and to continuing to grow, adapt, and deliver care that truly changes lives.
Therese Turek, Practice Manager
Final Reflections
Obesity is a long-term condition. It relapses. It resists simple solutions. And for too long, it’s been misunderstood, neglected, or stigmatised.
At QMed Clinic, we believe in a different approach. One that combines science with empathy, medicine with coaching, and structure with kindness.
This past year has proven that our model works. It works for people who’ve tried everything. It works for those who thought they couldn’t change. And it works because we treat people—not just weight.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve just started or are celebrating long-term success, your story matters.
💰 Fee Update – For Your Information
To align with national and regional standards set by NACOS (National Association of Clinical Obesity Services) and ANZMOSS (Australia and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society), our consultation fees will be updated as follows:
New Consultations: $420.00
Follow-Up Appointments: $150.00
These updated fees apply to new patients from Monday 30 June 2025, however if you are an existing active patient, your current fee structure will remain unchanged.
We remain committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based care and thank you for your continued trust and support.
Ngā mihi nui,
Dr Gerard McQuinlan
Clinical Director
Q Medical Weight Loss Clinic
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