[CJ22]

Some medical questions:

1/. I need to go see if my foot is broken or not. Can I do like I'd do in the UK, turn up at ER and they'll deal with it within the national health system (that is, do an xray etc. or at least examine it), or do I need to go to a doctor and pay them to examine it?

2/. I have Southern Cross medical insurance, but I only just signed up for it and don't have the documentation yet, so I can't really check - would accidental injury through sporting activity normally be covered? Been a pom, it's not something I've had to worry about before!

2/. When I register with a doctor, do I need to do like I would in the UK, find one that is near my home, or can I find one that is near where I work? In the UK you are obliged to find a doctor near your home in case they have to do a house call, but it can be a damn nuisance at times and it would be better if you could get one near where you work.

Thanks
CJ

[dilanium]

When I broke my finger ACC covered it. I think you would be fine just going to the ER.

I went to my school's med centre but that's only because that's where I was at the time.

[sizzlingbadger]

I would go to A&E, shouldn't have to pay for anything if you've got PR. You'll get a letter through from ACC covering you if it is broken, make sure you hang to this in case you need it in the future.

Not sure if it's the same if you're on a working visa though. Think you may end up paying for the x rays and consultation.

Hope for your sake nothing's broken :o

[BkyMonster]

You can go to a doctor anywhere you like.
I picked one near my OH's work (though when I told them where we lived they were confused I didn't pick one closer).

[CJ22]

Cheers guys. I'm on PR, so no problem there. I'm going to give it a couple of days to see if it settles down, then I'll go up to the ER. The worst it can be is a hairline fracture, but it doesn't hurt to have it checked out - if it is fractured it might not set right if somebody doesn't take a look at it.

[Kerry and David]

We didn't have to pay when we visited A&E the other week.

[Gar1]

Not sure if it's the same if you're on a working visa though. Think you may end up paying for the x rays and consultation.


No if you are UK citizen, there is a reciprocal agreement, so you would be treated just as a NZ citizen.

My wife had to have a back operation after a fall whilst we were here in 1998 on holiday, ACC paid for all the medical costs.

[Alan]

North Shore Care in Shakespeare Road is open 24*7 and will deal with it for you or I guess you can go to your own doctor.

[Alan]

Oh and if it may be muscle related and it is an accident and qualifies for ACC then you can go straight to a physio and there is no consultation fee either.

[JandM]

How did you hurt your foot, CJ?

[CJ22]

Playing football in bare feet. So pretty much self-inflicted! Hey ho, live and learn. I'm giving it the weekend to see if it settles down, if it's still bad then I'll get it checked out. Seems a bit better tonight actually, so I don't want to be a cry-baby :)

[benandclare]

I'd err on the side of safety and get it checked out.

Many moons ago I had a cow tread on my big toe and I thought it was just badly bruised but it had actually been fractured and the bone re-calcified around the break and then 10 years down the road it gave way and ended up with the tow halves rubbing against each other, not pleasant.
Anyway had operation to sort out but consultant warned me that a plastic inserts was probably on the cards for later in life :wah
Now being young and a tad stupid I managed to have this happen on my other foot as well , doh :wah

[bob_the_engineer]

Playing football in bare feet. So pretty much self-inflicted! Hey ho, live and learn. I'm giving it the weekend to see if it settles down, if it's still bad then I'll get it checked out. Seems a bit better tonight actually, so I don't want to be a cry-baby :)

Can I be rude and say STOP BEING AN ****! :D

I know a lady, and her little boy, I never met her husband or his dad he died from a dvt, the dvt came about from a broken limb.

Ok that’s rare, but we have a health service so use it, just be nice to the staff, they deserve it.

Bob

[CJ22]

Okay I hear you. I'm always nice to nurses ;)
Thanks all.

[tea drinker]

Have you had emergency 1st aid whilst you wait and decide what you are going to do?

[nippa&pippa]

Just saw this, hope not too late....
from my experience with "factured" shoulder injury few months ago :o

Go to GP first so GP referral you to "bone shop" at the hospital with ACC covered because you WILL be bypass A&E!!! hence no need to wait for your turn in ER.
At Bone shop, I was seen, x-ray and see specialist and treated then out with in an hour! :nice1
If you didn't go to GP first, then you might be waiting in A&E for few hours.

HTH?
I got the tips from my kiwi friends ;) especially it does work with our children's illnesses which need to be seen by specialist asap, we just went straight to CAA instead of A&E when we got there.

[CJ22]

Good plan Sophia. I'd better register at a doctors!

[nippa&pippa]

Good luck today if you are planning going to GP ;)

[CJ22]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I DID go to the doctors, I DID get an x-ray, and it IS just a bad sprain.

Now I just have to figure out the labyrinthian method of cliaming the cost back from a combination of ACC and Southern Cross! Not that it was massively expensive mind-you.