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Thread: Paying to see the doctor

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Manawatu - NZ
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    Default Paying to see the doctor

    I know there's always the on-going discussion regarding the fact that health care over here isn't free ... when really it isn't free at home either, but I have to say I walked out of the doctors clinic this afternoon feeling a little 'wounded'.

    Absolutely nothing wrong with me - fit as a fiddle. Nothing wrong with Fergie either - he's an even fitter fiddle. However, I needed some migraine medication (last lot was prescribed in UK, this is the first time I've requested some over here so couldn't just ask for a repeat prescription).

    Fergie needed a new epi-pen (he has a VERY bad nut allergy), also his puffer was out of date.

    We went to see the doc, who after about a 30 second discussion wrote new prescriptions for our meds and then spent the next 5 mins telling us about his fantastic holiday he'd had in the UK earlier this year.

    We thanked him and left. On the way out we were charged $76 just for the visit (can't even claim it was a consultation). I haven't collected the medicine yet ... Lord only knows how much that is going to cost us.

    I know the NHS was paid for by our taxes, but $76 did make me flinch !!!!

    Diny

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    North Shore
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    171

    Default

    We paid £26 a time in Jersey to see the doctor and I thought that was steep until I saw this post. The fee was also topped up by another £20+ by the government - not a bad hourly rate when it's added up

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    was Runcorn, now Te Awamutu
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    Default

    This is one that does get me a little angry. Having visited the quacks over here for various injuries and not ailments i am surprised how much as a family we have spent(cash) spending time in his surgery. I know there are certain occasions where a visit is neccessary, but quite recently after suffering an injury in work i was told to return to the quack for a return to work note, and this cost 20 bucks. Now back home i would have just phoned work told them i was fit, and bob's your uncle i was back earning. Luckily for us Elaine has southern cross health care which her employer provides, but at a cost to her, and we are able to claim against all associated health costs, so hopefully we aren't too bad in that respect. It is an eye opener when you think for every visit you get hit for a consultation fee along with prescription fees.

    Also recently after a torn quad, i was referred to a physio. Now this guy is good at his job and i was under his care for about 10 weeks, and i would have loved to seen his bill after the treatment. I returned a few weeks ago for a bit of advice regarding a lumber strain i received in work. Within 2 mins i was on the damn treatment bench and he was pulling and prodding me, which was followed by a questionnaire which had ACC all over it. It just seems as if we are a quick financial present to them when we walk through their doors and they sit there rubbing their hands.



    Kim

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Currently Dublin,
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    Because of the high charges I was wondering if people in NZ make more use of their pharmacists than we do in the Uk, to avoid paying heaps each time for a Dr's consultation. I know for some things its not possible but would people think of going to the pharmacist first to see if they could put them right and then take a trip to the Dr if a prescription is needed? Just a thought. I know you would've had no option Diny for the ailments you described but it sure seems like a lot of money! I hope you're feeling better, by the way how much are you expecting the prescription to be?!
    Cheers
    Scotia

  5. #5
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    Aug 2004
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    Quote Originally Posted by scotia
    Because of the high charges I was wondering if people in NZ make more use of their pharmacists than we do in the Uk, to avoid paying heaps each time for a Dr's consultation. I know for some things its not possible but would people think of going to the pharmacist first to see if they could put them right and then take a trip to the Dr if a prescription is needed? Just a thought. I know you would've had no option Diny for the ailments you described but it sure seems like a lot of money! I hope you're feeling better, by the way how much are you expecting the prescription to be?!
    Cheers
    Scotia

    Yeah - I do use the pharmasist alot more over here. But thankfully (touching wood) I have very little need for the services of a doctor (at this stage). I'm a strapping, healthy mare I'm happy to say.


    I'll collect the prescriptions today and let you know how much they cost.

    Diny

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Christchurch
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    I never used to visit the dr unless it was really necessary in the UK (being a dr's daughter, I was kind of brought up not to 'bother' the dr - that's probably why I managed to have rheumatic fever and a fractured wrist - both which weren't diagnosed for weeks because we couldn't 'bother' the dr). The same goes for here, although I would have sent OH to the dr in the UK for his hayfever drugs. He suffers really badly, but he's not prepared to pay $50 for a consultation then $15 for a prescription, so he's just going to have to buy something over the counter.

    I'm not sure if dr's fees are the same in every practice in NZ or not - at ours, we pay $50 per adult and $20 per child (either over 5 or 6). I could be wrong, but I think there is also a small fee for infants (please correct me if I am wrong). Although, I certainly wouldn't go to the dr for something trivial, costs aside, I will always make sure we visit the dr if necessary, regardless of the cost. Our health is just too important to put a price on.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Well I think I need a doctor after paying for this lot.

    Just got back from collecting the prescritions.

    My migraine tables cost $105.26 - govt subsidy $90.26 total to pay $15.00

    Ventolin puffer $14.24 - govt sub $749 - total to pay - $6.65

    Skin cream - $23.36 - govt sub - $20.36 - total topy $3.00

    Wait for it ...........

    Epipen Junior - $175.00 - govt sub $0.00 - total to pay - $175.00

    Handy hint for the day .... if you have a child who has a bad nut allergy and needs an epipen ....... sell him/her to medical science !!!!


    And to add insult to injury ... they don't keep the epipens in stcok so tomorrow I've got to drive all the way back into town to collect it. Only a round journey of 30km but irritating all the same !!!

    Diny

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Chch from Hants
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    12

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    Quiet a shopping list Diny I have a fare few scripts to get occasionally to and paid out heaps when we first got here, now I find this service is available to all communitys where I just ring the doctors surgery, speak to a nurse and she gets the doc to write a prescription and faxes it to the pharmacy!! No hassles mate!!

    I pay $10 for that service plus $2 fax fee (which I can avoid if I pick up the script). Most scripts have repeats for a year or so which means you can just go straight to pharmacy to pick up new tabs - no charge - so it needn't be expensive. I do object to the kids charges through but the wife usually speaks to chemist.

    For the service I get, at the time I want it and the fantastic Dr we have I'm more than happy to pay out to see him when its really needed. Here in central Chch there are lots of surgerys to pick from and 24hr places if you need themm.
    Last edited by Caspar; 14th November 2006 at 12:10 PM.

  9. #9
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    Jun 2005
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    Christchurch
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    hmm, I must admit that I haven't got my head around the pricing. Is there some sort of scale? Had to get some antihistamine on prescription last week for dd1 which cost $3 which I was quite happy about, but I've paid a lot more for other things. Are most kids' medicines subsidised? That list of yours, Diny, all sounds ok except for the Epipen, which does seem pretty extreme. In the UK, it's around £7 per prescription, although it's free for kids, so I guess you're used to getting most of that list foc.

    I guess I'll know more the next time I end up with a big 'shopping list' like Diny!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    was Runcorn, now Te Awamutu
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    Just had a pleasant(sp) surprise. Just had Nic to see specialist about the knee injury she sustained in August(having physio still), in there for no more than 4 mins, only words used by him " think we'll have a scan" along with Uhmm, arghhhh. Cost for those 4 mins and few words.....zilch

    Hate to think what the cost of the MRI could be


    Kim

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