Information & Fees

Consultations

Consultations / appointments are generally for 15 minutes. Due to time constraints it is not always possible to deal with multiple concerns. If you have multiple issues, please make a 30 minute appointment. There will be a standard  double charge for this. If you bring in a list, please be mindful that only 1 – 2 things will be dealt with unless you have made a 30-minute appointment. This is for patient safety.

If you require a follow up consultation with your GP, these are not necessarily discounted. Please be aware these may still incur a full consultation fee. 

We often get enquiries regarding charges for a phone consultation.  Phone triage and phone consultations were brought in through the COVID pandemic when face-to-face consultations were not advisable. The pandemic made us change our way of “meeting” with patients; phone triage, phone consultations, video consultations. Not only do these types of consultations protect the patient and our team member but they are convenient and efficient for many patients because the patient does not have to travel to the practice. However, they obviously still take time for the doctor or nurse, and a consultation fee is charged.

Please note – our new on-line Patient Portal service, Health365 is now available.  To contact the Practice on-line please register for Health365 with reception next time you visit.  You will then be able to make appointments on-line, order repeat prescriptions, obtain test results and generally manage your health at your convenience.  The Patient Portal service is accessible through http://www.health365.co.nz once you have registered for the service.  Each individual will require a personal email address to register for the portal.

Enrolled / Registered Patients

Enrolling with a GP / practice is free and voluntary.  If you choose not to enrol you can still receive health services from a GP, if that GP agrees to see “casual” patients.  Our GPs are NOT seeing casual patients. Advantages of enrolling are that your visits to the doctor will be cheaper – see “Funded Patients” below – and you will have direct access to a range of services linked to the Hawkes Bay Primary Health Organisation.  You will also receive better continuity of care because, wherever possible we endeavor to ensure that you see your preferred GP.  To see which surgeries in Hawkes Bay are enrolling, you can refer to the PHO website – www.healthhb.co.nz under Our Practices.

To enrol with us we need you to complete our enrolment form.  You must bring either your passport, or your New Zealand birth certificate and two forms of proof that you are the person on the birth certificate (one has to be a photo I.D.).  Proof of eligibility / I.D. is a Ministry of Health requirement.  The enrolment process can take a little time to complete.

Please be aware that currently it may take up to about 1 month from the date of your enrolment for the practice to receive funding for your care from the Ministry of Health.  During this time, the practice may charge you the higher consultation fee until the funding is received on your behalf.

To know whether you are eligible to enrol, call the practice (06 844 6831) or 0800 855 151, or visit the Ministry of Health website and work through the Guide to Eligibility Criteria.  To be entitled to enrol an eligible person must also be residing permanently in New Zealand (at least 183 days in the next 12 months) and you must wish to use this practice as your regular and ongoing provider of general practice services.

If you enrol with us you can go to another general practice, or change to a new general practice at any time.  If you visit another practice as a casual patient you will pay a higher fee for that visit.  so if you have more than one general practice you should consider enrolling with the practice you visit most often.

Once enrolled if you have not received services from us in a 3-year period it is likely that we will contact you and ask if you wish to remain with the practice.  If you are not able to be contacted, or do not respond, your name will be taken off our enrolment register.  This is a Ministry of Health stipulation.  When our books are open you can re-enrol with the practice but we can not guarantee that you will be able to re-enroll with the same GP you were with before.  Until you re-enrol you will have to pay the higher fee for a visit.

Sickness Benefits/WINZ forms/Disability Allowances etc

Unfortunately sickness benefit, disability certificates and invalid’s benefits are not able to be done over the phone or internet. If you require a renewal, you will  need to be seen. If you have recently moved to our practice and need a renewal, please ensure you have the relevant paperwork from your prior GP.

ACC forms

Unfortunately ACC forms and off work certificates are not able to be done over the phone or internet. If you or your employer require this, we do ask that you come in and get seen. If you have recently moved to our practice and need a renewal, please ensure you have the relevant paperwork from your prior GP.

Documentation/Paperwork requests from patients

At times we are asked to provide paperwork for Work and Income, disability certificates, medic alert forms  or your employer etc. As these take time  a documentation fee will be charged. We ask that you give ample time for these forms to be completed. If this paperwork is urgent we ask that you make an appointment to see a GP. We ask that you give at least 7 days notice, especially if no appointment has been made for this. If you need it done in less time, you will need to make an appointment. A standard consultation charge will apply, possibly more if the form is lengthy and takes significant time to complete.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions can largely be repeated 3 monthly without the need for consultation. However, generally once every 6 months you will need to be reviewed by the doctor.  Please do not be offended if the nurse informs you that you need to be reviewed by the doctor – this is a health requirement.

We do ask that you give at least 2 working days notice  (48 hours) before requesting your scripts. If your script is urgent and staff are unable to get it done quickly, please make an appointment to see a GP.  Due to the volume of scripts we are asked to prepare, scripts requested at less than 2 working days notice  (48 hours) may be charged an additional fee.

Please note – our new on-line Patient Portal service, Health365 is now available.  To contact the Practice on-line please register for the Portal with reception next time you visit.  You will then be able to order repeat prescriptions at your convenience.  However, you will still generally need to be seen by the doctor if you have not been seen for the specific medical condition for which the medication is required, in the preceeding 6 months.

If you are new to our practice and requesting restricted medications, please ensure you have the relevant paperwork from your GP or specialist. Antibiotics and new drugs that are not regular are not given without a consultation. This is for safety and indemnity reasons.

Patient Portal

Please note – our new on-line Patient Portal service, Health365 is now available.  To continue to contact the Practice on-line please register for the Portal with reception next time you visit.  You will then be able to make appointments on-line, order repeat prescriptions, obtain test results and generally manage your health at your convenience. The Patient Portal service is accessible through http://www.health365.co.nz once you have registered for the service.

Phone Calls

It is often difficult  for GP staff to take phone calls during the day, or return phone calls during the day because they are seeing patients face-to-face and generally very busy.  Please do not ask for the GP to call you as this is generally not possible.  If your matter is urgent, please discuss with the nurse, or make an appointment to see the relevant GP.

Results

Please note – our new on-line Patient Portal service, Health365 is now available.  To continue to contact the Practice on-line please register for the Portal with reception next time you visit.  You will then be able to obtain test results on-line.  The Patient Portal service is accessible through http://www.health365.co.nz once you have registered for the service.

Results are otherwise sent out to patients in the mail.  If a result is abnormal or urgent, or requires attention, a GP or nurse will contact you.  Should you ring requesting results, the nurse taking the call will have to let you know a result without reading your history or background. Should you require your results urgently, it is best for you to see the person who ordered the test or X-ray/Scan etc. If that is not possible, please make an appointment to be seen by any GP. There is a standard charge for this.

Fees

This list is current as at January 1st 2024. Please be aware that prices vary for minor surgery, documentation requests (eg WINZ/Medic Alert forms etc) so talk to the practice. Non-attendance or not cancelling appointments may incur a cancellation fee of $55.00. Payment is expected on the day of consultation. Due to repeated non payments from patients, we reserve the right to send all unpaid accounts to debt collection agencies.

 Please note fees have changed for 2024 – see below

Funded Patients (enrolled and funded at the practice)

Adult consultation (15 minutes) 25yrs and over$55.00
Children 14yrs – 24yrs (15 minutes) (Rangatahi funding until 30/04/2025)No charge
Children under 14 yrs (enrolled only, 15 minutes)No charge

Funded Patients with a CSC (enrolled and funded at the practice)

Adult consultation (15 minutes) 25yrs and over$19.50
Children 14yrs – 24yrs (15 minutes) (Rangatahi funding until 30/04/2025)No charge
Children under 14 yrs (enrolled only, 15 minutes)No charge

Other Charges (enrolled and funded patients)

Nurse Consult$49.50
ACC Surcharge Adult (15 minute consultation) 25yrs and over$55.00
ACC Surcharge – with CSC (adult / 25yrs and over) $19.50
ACC Surcharge 14-24 years (Rangatahi funding until 30/04/2025)No Charge
ACC Surcharge under 14 yearsNo Charge
Script Fee / Script < 24 hours notice$21.50 / $33.00
Blood Pressure Check$14.50
ElectroCardioGraph (ECG)$30.00
Liquid nitrogen (less than 5 lesions)$19.00
Liquid Nitrogen(5 or more lesions)$31.00
Dressing Fee$30.00

We have EFTPOS and credit card services available, and prefer fees are paid on the day.  

We do not accept American Express cards.