So angry !!!

I just got charged for Joy's immunisations when they are supposed to be free!!!
I rang to book the appointment and they said I HAD to see the doctor first for a check. So even though the plunket nurse saw her last week the doctor had to check her again.
So we go today, he listened to her chest and checked her hips - that's it (the plunket nurse does more than that). Then we got her first immunisations and then we get charged for seeing the doctor!! GRRR!!! How come the nurse couldn't do that??! Greedy b****y doctors.
I got so mad...

That's pretty sh*te, Spencer gets seen for free until he is 5 or 6 (can't remember which). Maybe you should have a look around for a better doc.

i thought all childrens visits are feel until they are about 5yrs
I know ive never paid for the kids

Edited by my2angels

Yeah I have rung them to lay a complaint. I said I would be going in tomorrow to collect our records and that we would be changing medical centres. Joy gets charged for going to that doctor every other time too. So rude.
I feel ripped off especially when I know there are other places that don't charge for children under particular ages but to charge for a compulsory doctor visit just so I can get her "free" immunisations is just wrong. I am literally fuming!

All our visits have been free, he has been for three well child check ups and a couple of other visits as well and haven't paid a penny. Only time i've paid was when i took him in on a saturday and then it was only $10.

I would definately look around for a doc that doesn't charge for kids.

Its pretty common in Auckland for them to charge for children. Ours have always been between $10-$22.
However, that is the charge for medical visits, not the 6 week well child check which should be free, you definitely got ripped off there!
Vaccinations should always be free, unless its non funded ones that you choose to get, like chicken pox.

We pay $4 each visit for Xanda, but we never paid anything for our 6week check, and even I got checked by the doctor at that one.

I do not mind paying $4 for Xanda, as the last dr we were seeing, never charged us for visit but the prescriptions were always $3. This Dr charges us $4 and all prescriptions are free.

I pay $16 each time Gina sees a doc but I don't mind as our GP is really wonderful. And in Remuera
From memory I took Gina in for her first visit and immz and we got charged too but can't remember how much. The immz since have been free as we only see the nurse.

The doctors visit is compulsory as is the well child check up that needs to be completed by the doctor. I know anything within the first 6 weeks was free and wonder if they have charged you because Joy is older than 6 weeks now - if so that is a bit off!!

I am with Paws though, I wont be changing to a free doctor as mine too rocks. She knows me and Jack and the service I get from them is worth the $15 I have to pay. I also think they have every right to charge it. I believe that they get a subsidy based on the socio-economic make up of the area or patients. High socio economic area = less money.

Yeah I wouldn't change doc's if the were good either. But our doc (and practice in general) is pretty average really, in my opinion. Nothing super outstanding.
The doctor returned my call this afternoon (I rang to complain and tell them we were changing) and rolled out all the usual arguments. I told him he wasn't saying anything to make me change my mind and then he layed on a big guilt trip about the quality of the doctors there and their services and if I go somewhere else I'm not going to get quality care etc etc...it's kinda laughable that he even went there...In the past they have mixed up records of mine with other patients, never follow up on visits or blood results (I always have to chase them), are always in a rush to get the patient out the door - I could go on for ages.
I don't think I will get crap care if I go somewhere else but now I kinda feel stink coz he put the doubt in my head.