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Patients Paying Over $200 To Visit After-Hours In Palmerston North
Some patients seeking treatment at a Palmerston North after hours clinic could face a bill of more than $200.
Palmerston North after-hours clinic is one of the most expensive places to seek care in New Zealand, costing between $225 (with a community services card) to $260 for a non-enrolled patient for a medical consult, and between $85 (with a community services card) and $110 for enrolled patients.
On Sunday, the government announced a $164 million boost to urgent care services throughout the country over the next four years.
The announcement includes new 24/7 urgent care services for Auckland's Counties Manukau, Whangārei, Palmerston North, Tauranga and Dunedin. While new and extended daytime urgent care services will be rolled out in Lower Hutt, Invercargill and Timaru.
Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mullholland said it is unclear if the boost will help to make services more affordable.
"It's not uncommon to walk in there and see the waiting room bursting at the seams with patients, (and) there to be wait times of four hours or more. On top of that, if you are seen, there is a horrendous cost attached to that," Mullholland told Morning Report.
He said for many patients, the cost is too expensive so they go to Palmerston North Hospital's emergency department instead.
But it's not just Palmerston North experiencing costly after hours' visits.
"I've heard of horrendous costs else where, in particular, around Queenstown and Central Otago," Mullholland said. "I understand it's a common price to pay over $200 down that part of the world and I suspect it's very high elsewhere."
Mullholland said he doesn't know why the clinic costs that much, however, noted the number of doctors at the Palmerston North after-hours has reduced due to doctors retiring.
"We just do not have enough GPs in Aotearoa," he said.
The clinic is operating with a deficit of around 10 doctors, according to the owner of the clinic, City Doctors.
"[It's] putting the few GPs who are left under immense pressure, with increased workloads and longer hours," City Doctor said in a press release earlier this year.
"We have actively engaged with stakeholders in the region and continue to request support from GPs not currently contributing at an equitable level, but unfortunately, we still do not have enough clinician support."
City Doctors has been approached for further comment on their pricing.
Brown told Morning Report on Monday the government's investments in primary care will ensure new urgent care clinics are adequately staffed with doctors.
Funding had been allocated to train 50 more GPs a year, 100 overseas doctors already in NZ, and for 120 nurse practitioners per year, he said.
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