[jan]

My 7 yr old daughter appeared showing me her nasty abcess that had formed on her little gum.

The day after I took her to see the school dentist. As we walked in, never seen her before now, I explained our reasons for attending and could we have a prescription? She never even looked at her and said `You have to take her to a doctor to get a script` She could not issue this.

I had to wait a further 24 hrs to see her doctor who after all of umm 30 seconds of being in the room printed one off WITHOUT even looking in her mouth! $29 to see the quack then $10 for the script. It is now school holidays my daughter has finished the script and we won't be able to see her dentist till after then. I am going to have to take her to see someone else me thinks. I don't want to leave it too long.

Children under 7 do not pay to see a doctor. Except at weekends were they charge $20.... I think.

[Tanya]

Our doctor charges for over 6years old!! Had to pay $25.00 on friday for my 6 year old to see a doctor!

Tanya

[Jo and Andy]

Really confused about all the medical charges over there.

Is it right that you pay to see your Dr, but due to this most people seek advice from their pharmacist first to see if they can get stuff over the counter.

If anything seriously wrong where you need hospital treatment this is free?

Anyone who can give me general pattern I would be most grateful.

By the way hope your daughters Abscess is getting better, and your daughter is getting better too Tanya.

Jo

[Milliemoo]

I think it's a good idea that you pay for the doctor. It stops the nonsense situation you have here in the UK, whereby you can't get an appointment when you really need one, cause the surgery's full of time wasters with colds! :roll:

I don't think you should pay for kiddies though...I think that's a bit harsh.

Just another thing to budget for me thinks ;)

Milliemoo :nice1

[Moorf]

Hospital treatment is free. Prescriptions aren't. Doc's visits range in price from $30 - $50 per appt. If a Doc wants you to have a blood test or other test then these are free.

It is quite usual for people who have coughs/colds/sore throats or other minor ailments to go to the pharmacist first. They are very helpful. Usually your Doc will only give you something that you could have got over the counter anyway. There are "all night" chemists and docs surgeries that you can turn up to at any time and be seen. You don't have to be registered, these are really for out of hours emergencies but I've been for minor bits before.

You can go private, as in the UK, but it will cost. Major surgery can cost 10's of thousands of $$ so if you want private care then obviously a plan is needed!

[Gran]

When I was getting a recuring absess, my Dentist just said "Give me a ring any time and I will fax a script to your chemist" no charge, he knew I would get sick of that and go to him to get it fixed after a couple of sessions of absess which of course I did. Once you have a regular Dentist/Doctor, and they know you are not a casual, you will probably get better treatment/prices.

[Paul and Linda]

Does surgery/hospital treatment cost on the NZ NHS? or is it just for private stuff?

[Moorf]

There is an NHS equivalent. You can also go private.

However, I have already come across a strange scenario with private vs "nhs". I have been referred to a specialist at Chch hospital. So it's free because I've been referred by my GP). To see the same specialist on a private basis would a) cost $300 for first visit and $100 each one thereafter and b) I'd have to wait longer! I have a 3 month wait as it is, but Dr said that waiting list for private clients is longer! Weird! (but I'm happy!!).

[jocalla]

We had a similar strange experience :?

When my daughter started having the 'fits' she was referred by the doc to have an EEG (think it is that one....the one to do with your brain)

Well anyway, I was really worried about her and my parents offerred to pay to get it done private. I phoned up, they told me the price but said I would have to wait 4 weeks for the test. They also said that by getting it done the 'NHS' way,it would be quicker. So stuck with the 'NHS' way and within a week she was in the hospital having the test done :?

Everything here seems to be done by referrals. Same with the kids dentists. The school dentists gave me a referral to go to a private dentist for free, but without the referral letter I would have to pay.