Hon Tony Ryall
Minister of Health
14 November 2011
Free a/hrs for under-sixes on the way
The Ministry of Health has started work with primary care to implement free after-hours GP visits for under
six-year-olds.
Health Minister Tony Ryall announced last month that the Government was making funding available for GPs to offer the
free after-hours service.
Mr Ryall says "The Government is keen to see free after hours for under-sixes in place, and the Ministry of Health is
working through the initiative with primary care representatives. I have also asked the Director-General of Health to
start DHB negotiations on this."
"This Government is committed to improving public services for families, and we don't want parents being put off taking
their young children to the doctor because of the cost.
"We have been advised that after-hours fees for under-sixes can vary from $0 to nearly $100 per consultation in an
extreme case, with an estimated average fee of about $17," Mr Ryall says.
DHBs will negotiate with local GP networks and after-hours clinics on a district by district basis aiming for a 1 July
2012 rollout.
Free medical care for under-six year olds to after-hours at an estimated cost of around $7 million a year.
"Not every after-hours clinic will want to help young children in this way, however we expect strong uptake by
after-hours clinics," Mr Ryall says.
ENDS