So angry !!!

Funny you should mention that Becks, I got a script the other day and it was $4. I found it odd, got to the car and discovered they had a processing charge on there!!! They won't get any more of my business!

i didnt pay for james 6 week imms but our docs are great they are free till they are 18 ii so love our docs

lottiesmum wrote: Yup we get charged $10 a visit here. Always have done. Most medical centres here in Rangiora seem to charge. You can hardly even get on anyones books here so to change doctors would be near impossible and they would probably charge the fees you have to pay when you are not a registered patient. In saying that our doctor is fantastic and I don't mind paying the $10 for someone I trust. I do agree it's not fair tho!

Is free down here in Kaiapoi, you could spend less than $10 commuting to a doc down here. Is only $24 for adults to see the doc as well now. And the docs are fab, very thorough and in no rush

all doctors here are free for all children under 6 and that even inludes the white cross centre which is for afther hours and the kids percriptions (sp) are only $3 the PHO system is really good.

I am curious Jennz (and not trying to be controversial) but do you think the quality of the healthcare is as good. I found it to be pretty shocking when we lived in London, but then I have a fantastic GP here, so probably wasnt comparing apples with apples. (Although I had a hospital stay in London and it was horrific - but thats another story!!) I also worked in the healthcare arena over there and often wondered if - because there are so many people and its free whether the quality of care is as good.

 

I pay really high fees for our GP and have paid for Alize since he was a newborn. I think it is not really an issue paying for kids as we spend money on all other items for them and some not really classed as needs and yet healthcare should be right at the top of the budget along with education etc.  Just my two cents worth

The only time we get charged for Ollie is if we take him to an A&E and even then its only $5.00. Our med centre recently dropped their price to $33.00 (was over $50.00) and the doctors are great. As it is we have health insurance so can claim it all back, so I'm more than happy to pay if I need to.

SimSam- Our Dr happens to be wonderful, the best Dr I've ever had but from what I have heard we are in the minority and very lucky with him. The practice we go to leaves morning appointments open and you call in to book them at 8am so if you really need to you can almost always get in on the day- but again I think we are in the minority in that respect.

As far as maternity care goes it is not nearly as good as NZ. They are overworked, noticabley understaffed and underfunded- I am so glad that I had my first in NZ and not here. In saying that whenever I needed anything I got it.

We have had several ER experiences, 2 with Charlottes allergies, 1 when DH broke his shoulder and with my threatened MCs and they were fantastic each time. No different to NZ IMO. We have also seen paediatricians for Kate, an Allergy specialist for Charlotte, Untrasound staff during my pregnancy and a bone guy for DH and they were all just as good as any NZ specialists I have dealt with.

I think we have been lucky though- we live in a really good area. It just seems that if you're paying so much for healthcare in NZ then it should be comparably better and from my experiences its better, but not as good as it should be.