Howick and pakuranga times july 9 2015

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No to free visits to Dr By HALEY THOM

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HERE is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone has to pay for it,� says Marina Medical Centre GP Dr Bruce Page. He claims Marina Medical Centre cannot afford to participate in the ‘free under 13 scheme’ that 96 per cent of NZ GPs have signed up for. The scheme provides government funding for two consultations per enrolled child each year, however, the child would be allowed unlimited visits. Dr Page said the funding is based on the average fee across practices nationally and that combined with the consultation rate of children at Marina Medical means the scheme is “not economically viable� for the practice. “Each practice is forced to take

the risk that parents will bring their children no more than twice per year because beyond that it is the individual practice that is providing the free care – not the government.â€? He describes the issue of the ‘free under 13 scheme’ as “somewhat peripheralâ€? in proportion to wider problems within the primary care sector caused by under-funded DHBs. Dr Page likens this new government scheme to that which introduced free medical care to children under the age of six and claims that government funding has fallen well short of the costs Marina Medical incurs by providing that service. “Once again the government is trading on the good will of practices to bear the ďŹ nancial burden,â€? he said. Primary healthcare is under immense pressure because the underfunded DHBs cannot provide serv-

ices they once did and that workload has been funnelled back into primary care, he said. “Some of the stuff we are doing is good for our patients – but much of it is just bureaucratic box-ticking that drives us to distraction, and leaves us with less time to deal with the important health issues our patients need help with,� Dr Page said. “There are audits of this, reports about that – all designed to measure how well we are doing but in reality have very little to do with the quality of care we are providing. We’re all exhausted!� Dr Page suggests that other east Auckland medical practices were coerced to sign up for the scheme. “While some local practices have decided to join the scheme, many of these have done so under duress,� he said.

“The wellbeing of New Zealand’s children remains a high priority at our practice. As we have always done, we offer discounted consultation fees (and sometimes free care) for those genuinely in ďŹ nancial need, because we want to make sure everyone gets the medical care they deserve,â€? Dr Page said. The Government plans to review the scheme in a year to ensure the funding is adequately covering doctors’ costs. The NZ Herald reported 44 out of 1012 practices in New Zealand had opted out of the scheme most of which were located in Auckland. Other local practices that have opted out of the scheme include Pakuranga Medical Centre, Beachlands Medical Centre and Maraetai Beach Medical Centre. ➤ Turn to Page 3

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