Parents question GP fee hike

Rachael Wheeler with her children. Photo / Janna Dixon

The days of Kiwi doctors treating toddlers for free are long-gone, with one big-city clinic charging $44 to see children younger than 5.

The Herald on Sunday surveyed general practices and primary health organisations (PHOs) in the central and upper North Island. Although most GPs wouldn't charge a fee to see under-6s, many did.

The Ministry of Health said GPs could join the "very low-cost access" or "zero fees for under-6s" programmes, in addition to receiving funding from PHOs. In New Zealand, about 87 per cent of children under 6 were enrolled with a GP in such schemes, which meant they received free or low-cost GP checks.

In our survey, we found charges for young children ranged from nothing in most places outside Auckland to $20-$25 a visit in several suburban clinics. But at $44 for enrolled patients aged under 6 and $46 for those not enrolled, CityMed, in Albert St, charged the biggest fee we found.

General practices are private businesses and can set their own fees. They receive an annual base government subsidy of $379-$399 for each enrolled child aged up to 4, and $120-$112 for patients aged 5-14.

CityMed administration manager Gail Kingston explained the $44 fee was calculated by deducting a government subsidy from the clinic's standard fee of $79. They did have some young patients on their books, and their parents did pay the fee. "We do get people questioning it," she said.

Staff salaries and high rents added to the clinic's costs, but Kingston said people were welcome to go elsewhere.

Westmere GP Dr John Cameron, who is also clinical director for Procare, the PHO of which CityMed is a member, said: "It comes down to the financial models within the practices. [In] my practice I don't charge for under 6s, but other practices will make a decision based on a whole range of different things."

Mother-of-two Rachael Wheeler pays $12 each time she takes daughter Micaela, 2, or son Brody, 6 weeks, to their GP in Takapuna, Auckland. Wheeler, 28, said it was enough to make her hesitate before going sometimes, especially when money was tight. "I always thought it was free until I had my own kids," she said.

At other practices, Wheeler had been charged $5-$15 a child per visit. "It's especially hard because sometimes you want to go for peace of mind."

However, she liked her GP and patients could pay by instalments if need be. "It's really frustrating when the expectation is doctors are supposed to be free."