Free doctor visits for all under-13s

All Rotorua Lakes District general practices have confirmed that children under the age of 13 will get free health care.

All 18 Lakes District general practices have confirmed they will offer free doctors' visits to children under the age of 13 from July.

In its 2014 Budget, the Government pledged to make the visits and prescriptions free for all primary school-aged children, at a cost of $90 million over three years.

But in April, the Green Party obtained documents which revealed only 90 per cent of visits would be funded.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman then advised parents to "shop around for a GP" until they found one that did not charge.

However, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) this week confirmed all 18 of its general practices have opted into the programme.

RAPHS chief executive Kirsten Stone said the organisation was pleased with the 100 per cent sign-up rate.

"While general practice fees in Rotorua are already among the lowest in New Zealand, this initiative helps remove any financial barriers to healthcare for children, especially for young families where any unbudgeted cost, no matter how low, can have a significant impact to the affordability of services," she said.

"The free under-6 programme already in place resulted in increased service access and lower costs for families.

"RAPHS anticipates that the free under-13 programme will provide similar benefits to support improved health and wellbeing for Rotorua children and families."

A Rotorua principal, Linda Woon of Otonga Rd Primary School, also expected the programme to benefit many local families. "How marvellous that all the various clinics have signed up for the service," she said.

"It will certainly be a huge relief for many families."

Mrs Woon also hoped the programme would mean fewer school absences.

"If there's no cost, parents are less likely to wait and see if the illness is going to get worse before taking them to the doctor.

"That should mean less time off school sick and more time at school, where we can teach children."

Mrs Woon expected the move would free up the hospital's emergency department as well.

"I think it's wonderful that more children will be able to be treated earlier.

"If more [children] go to the doctor, then you would expect fewer of them to get to the severe case of having to go to hospital."

The programme is expected to benefit about 400,000 children nationwide. It will include a contribution from ACC, which will mean about 213,000 children will receive free injury-related doctors' visits, according to ACC Minister Nikki Kaye.

Doctors' visits are currently free for children under 6 at about 98 per cent of New Zealand practices.

Dr Coleman said the uptake was not immediate when the under-6 policy was introduced.

"Initial uptake was 70 per cent in January 2008 and it has steadily increased to current levels," he said.

"There are only around 12 general practices in New Zealand that are not offering free under-6s doctors' visits."

The Government expected the uptake to be similar for the under-13s scheme, he said.

A 2013, Child Poverty Action Group survey found the average cost for a child aged 6-17 to visit a GP during office hours was $24. Individual charges ranged from zero to $60.