Bay couple Nohotu Tai, 35, and her partner David Bowden said they were patients of medical centre in their area but sometimes struggled to get into see their GP for a week.
"Sometimes if we ring up on a Wednesday we can't get in to see a doctor until the following week. If it's urgent matter we will come over to Tauranga to the 2nd Avenue Health Centre because we know they will take walk-ins.
"It is a quite expensive visit as the adult consultation fee is $60 to $70, compared to $15 to $20 at our own medical centre. It's real struggle financially but we are left with little choice if we can't afford to wait a week to see our own GP."
There had been occasions when they had visited Tauranga Hospital emergency department if it was an after hours visit because it was free service, and they just didn't have the money, she said.
Papamoa mother Renee Hamilton said she had visited the 2nd Avenue Health Centre three times in two days seeking treatment for 6-month-old son Leonardo after struggling to get an appointment with her GP.