News from CPAG

News from CPAG

Health check up finds free after-hours visits for under sixes improving but more progress is needed

Child Poverty Action Group's nationwide study Implementation of free after-hours services for children under six in New Zealand shows most GPs providing free services but some practices continue to charge. This is of concern because of New Zealand's high rates of hospital admissions for diseases which are preventable by GP management.

CPAG Health spokesperson Professor Innes Asher says the study involved 280 practices from the 20 District Health Boards. It followed on from CPAG's nationwide telephone poll in 2007 that found after-hours doctor visits costing up to $120 per visit.

Changes in 2011 saw the Free Child Health Care Scheme extended to after-hours doctor visits for children under six. Professor Asher says the survey demonstrated a noticeable positive difference to low income families accessing health care.

Reduced GP costs for young children have removed financial barriers for many families, especially those from poorer communities. "This is wonderful progress because the first years of life are critical and many childhood illnesses are acute and unpredictable."

The survey looked at costs for under six year olds visiting the doctor during both standard business hours and after-hours (75% of the week). While it found almost 95 percent of those surveyed provided free health care in hours, fewer (84%) provided free visits after hours. There were still practices that continued to charge, and particularly for after hours services. Professor Asher says families often required urgent medical care for their children outside of standard business hours. "Children do not get sick just in work hours".

In only half of the DHBs did all the sampled practices provide free health care during both business hours and after-hours. Where charges were made these were up to $60, with the cost varying significantly within these DHBs.

Access was also a barrier to free health care as the majority of the week - 75 percent falls outside standard business hours. Only four DHBs-Auckland, Waitemata, Counties Manukau and Canterbury-have 24-hour Accident and Medical Centres. In other DHBs the average closing time is 9pm, leaving the hospital Emergency Department as the only option.

"Clearly since the government extended the Free Child health Care Scheme there has been some very good news in that the cost of GP visits for young children has gone down significantly. But free access is still not reaching all children as promised. More progress is still needed so that all children under six, no matter where they live, or at what time of day they are sick, are able to see a doctor free of charge. In addition the Free Child Health Care Scheme should be extended to older children where diseases like rheumatic fever, respiratory illnesses and serious skin infection more commonly occur." says Professor Asher.

-ENDS-

© Scoop Media