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Joining and Leaving the Practice
When you join the practice it is important that we review your medical history and perform a medical examination in order to provide the best possible care for you. You will be invited to have an initial appointment with a nurse before seeing the doctor. We can request your notes from your previous doctor with your permission and you will be asked to sign a form for this.
If you leave the practice, please let us know so that we can cancel reminder notices and keep our records up to date. Your new doctor will request your notes from us once you have authorised this.
Appointments
Appointments are usually made for 15 or 20 minutes depending on the doctor. Please be considerate of other patients if you have several problems which may require more time than one appointment allows. You are welcome to book a double appointment if you think this is necessary, and this will carry an additional charge.
We try to ensure that you are able to see your regular doctor as this maintains continuity of care. It is therefore best if you telephone ahead to make an appointment. If there is a significant delay you may be offered an appointment with another doctor. Please tell the receptionist if your problem is urgent.
If you attend the centre during normal opening hours in an emergency or bring an injured or very ill person, the "Duty Doctor" will attend to you as soon as possible. You do not need an appointment.
If you have made an appointment which is no longer needed, please ring us at least 2 hours beforehand so that it can be made available for another patient.
After Hours
We provide an on-call service for acute illnesses and accidents/emergencies outside of normal surgery hours. At night, over the weekend and on public holidays our emergency telephone number is 293 6002. Calls are answered by a nurse who will take details and will up to 8pm, offer advice or contact the doctor on call to see you. Occasionally the nurse will arrange for an ambulance to attend as well as contacting the doctor. Between 8pm and 8am, you may be directed to Kenepuru A&M facility in Poirua.
Home Visits
If you need a doctor to call at your home, please phone early in the day if possible.
Fees
Our schedule of fees is on display at reception. All fees are GST inclusive. You can pay by EFTPOS, cheque, cash or credit card. Payment is expected at the time of consultation, but if we have to send an account, an extra charge is made to cover administration and postage. Should you have difficulty paying fees or settling an account, please discuss this with your doctor or the Practice Manager.
There is a reduced fee structure for a wide range of consultations, including subsidised consultations, follow-ups, ACC consultations. Please enquire.
Additional charges are made for after hours consultations, home visits and call outs, as well as for all materials used and procedures such as ECG, spirometry, minor surgery etc.
Dealing with Difficulties
If there is a problem about the way you have been treated, or if you are unhappy with any of the services provided, you need to tell us as soon as possible. Please contact the doctor in question, the Practice Manager or outline your concerns in a letter to the practice. You can be assured that problems will be tackled and any complaints dealt with promptly. You also have the right to use independent procedures. These are outlined in a pamphlet from the Health and Disability Commissioner available at the Centre.
Family Medicine Training Programme Doctors
Our practice is approved by the Royal N.Z. College of GP's as a training practice. A trainee GP or "GP Registrar" is a fully qualified doctor with at least 2 years of hospital experience who is undertaking the General Practice Vocational Training Programme. He/she would spend 5 months in our practice learning more about this area of medicine. You may be asked if you would be happy to see the registrar when requesting an appointment.
Health Checks
We would like to recommend to you our well-person health checks. These are designed to look at inherited, lifestyle and other personal health risks, so that measures can be taken to reduce these in the future. They are particularly aimed at those between the ages of 30 and 70 years who rarely need to see a doctor.
The health check includes filling out a questionnaire, seeing your practice nurse, having tests done and following up with your doctor.
If you would like to have a well person check, please phone the reception desk to arrange a time.