NORMAL WEEKDAY OPENING TIMES:

Mondays to Fridays                     8.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.

Thursday                                       8.30 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.

LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAY AS FROM 22nd SEPTEMBER 2011 Further evening clinics will commence depending on demand.

EARLY OPENING MONDAY TO FRIDAY

Our clinics will be extended to 8.00 am starts on selected days (to be decided) . Initially these will  be during working hours and largely demand led.

Between 5.00 pm and 7.00 pm URGENT contact MAY be obtained on 576 2770 / 2771. Please note this is not a prescription or appointment line.  If there is no answer, and you still need advice, you should redial on 576 2009. You will be connected to a nursing service (24 hours).

E-mail (clinical): hchc@hchc.co.nz

E-mail (appointments/enquiries) reception@hchc.co.nz

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED?

ON-LINE BOOKING and NOTES/RESULTS ACCESS. We regret this is still in the process of rollout. Unfortunately, the programme does not yet meet our specific security requirements......  but we are working on it! We really do believe this is the new way forward for primary care. More information when YOU want it.

OTHER CONTACT NUMBERS:

AMBULANCE SERVICES 24 hour                - 111

NB. Only to be used for emergency situations (hospital admissions)

HEALTHLINE for free 24-hour health advice    - 0800 611 116

NURSE HELP LINE (HML) OUT OF HOURS    - 04 576 2009

AFTER HOURS MEDICAL CARE (Emergency Medical Service Hutt Valley Ltd - see opening times below)                   - 04 567 5345

AFTER HOURS SERVICES: Call 04 567 5345. We pay for, and our staff support, the Lower Hutt After Hours Facility (LHAH). You can access their services on normal weekdays between 5.30pm  - 11.00 pm, and at weekends between 8.00 am to 11.00 pm (similarly on statutory holidays).    They are also staffed on holiday weekends and statutory holidays. Their address is 729 High Street, Lower Hutt. (North of Hutt Hospital, opposite the Janus Bakery). Emergencies or severe injuries are advised to attend ED in the Hutt Hospital (dial 111 for ambulance services but, although free to you, please appreciate this is a costly service and use this when appropriate). Less urgent cases there will have a significant waiting times and you may simply be referred back to your GP. We also provide patients with a nursing help-line (HML) 24 hours a day which can be contacted on our number 576 2009. So, even if you rarely need a doctor, it is worthwhile enrolling with a practice.

OUR CHARGES:

OUR CHARGES HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE JULY 2010 (those in OCTOBER 2010 WERE GST INCREASES ONLY).

THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING (NZ citizens, NZ residents, or those with a working VISA of 2 years duration): 

CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE = FREE

JUVENILES (6 - <18)                              = $24

ADULTS                                                  = $36

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CASUAL PATIENTS = $66  (NZ citizens/residents or with 2 year Working Visa from out of the area). 

CASUAL PATIENTS with a COMMUNITY CARD    = $51

PATIENTS INELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH SERVICES = $87

Note: some overseas countries have reciprocal arrangements with NZ and are charged as CASUALS. 

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NURSE CONSULTATIONS $25 for funded patients, $19 juveniles, casuals $37, ineligible for funding $48. BPs $10. Nitrogen applications (Monday only) $30. Depo Provera injections $25.

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS $16 + $5 faxing. 

DRIVING MEDICALS $66.

INSURANCE/COMPANY MEDICAL - by arrangement.

IMMIGRATION MEDICALS $235 (<15yoa $165)

LOST PRESCRIPTIONS $15 + $5 faxing (some restrictions).

EAR SYRINGING $30 (we do not advise younger children to have this as suction wax extraction is advised - over 5 years of age). 

MINOR SURGERY, INSURANCE or IMMIGRATION MEDICALS (by request). 

ECGs $30. Cervical Smears (nurses) $35

CARE PLUS - 2 chronic medical conditions - nurse free up to 4 annually) or 3 nurse & 1 GP appointment / annum (latter $10)

Certain categories of patient are able to access some of our services free of charge, so...........

IF YOU ARE LIMITED MEANS:

HCHC is not eligible for ‘Very Low Cost Access’ [VLCA] Government funding despite being a relatively high needs practice (approximately 30% of patients are in Quintile 5 locations, Maori or of Pacific Island descent). However, there are funding streams available for patients which provide a number of FREE SERVICES to our patients.

Funding is also available for

Also for those whom qualify as ‘QUINTILE 5 socio-economic group, and/or Pacific Island & Maori ethnicities:

This is also provides free of charge private counseling.

It is on-site and it is a really first class service with trained psychologists (and/or counsellors representing the Maori/PI communities).

If you are unsure if you may qualify for these services PLEASE TALK TO one of us.

WE WELCOME ALL ethnicities and socio-economic groups and those coming to live in the Valley from out of the area. We aim to provide the best possible care for ALL our patients.

The majority of our population to date is in the 45 - 65 age range but we also welcome children of all ages, reluctant teenagers and young adults. We are enroling both the chronically infirm and the very elderly. You are all important to us.

YOU CAN ALSO HELP US:

TIME: If you are new patient please fill in our health questionnaire whilst you are waiting to see the nurse or doctor. In addition, please allow us sufficient time for us to deal with your issues, especially if there are many. Be realistic with a 15 minute appointment (which provides only 10 minutes consultation time). Doctors and nurses have skills and are not X-Ray machines. They are here to help you, not simply charge you.  If you need more time book a 30 minute appointment (20 minutes consultation). As we are subsidising new patients (charging them $32 rather than $65) a 30 minute appointment is still cheaper than patients who are seen as ‘unfunded’ patients i.e $65. If we could give it to you free we would!

WINZ & ACC: New patients requiring Sickness Benefits and Long Term ACC compensation are advised to book a 30 minute first appointment for the doctor to assess their continuing eligibility. Please advise us if you need your notes to be sent to us urgently as transfers can sometimes take several weeks. We reserve the right to refuse, defer or shorten any re-assessment time where insufficient information is available to us. We also reserve the right to terminate certificates made in good faith where appointment charges are not honoured. There are arrangements for those of limited means through Work & Income. Those whom cannot pay on the day of their first appointment should firstly seek advice from them. Some patients may qualify for free ‘Wellness” assessments.

PAYMENTS: We only ask that in return for our services you pay your account in full, or alternatively set up direct debit arrangements to get you through the difficult times. We are a private health provider and your fees help us survive and provide care for you tomorrow. Patients who cannot pay their bills will be sympathetically advised and assisted, those who wont pay their bills will not receive our services. Those genuinely in need will not be turned away if you talk to us. Fee dodgers will only do so once!

METHOD OF PAYMENT: As a new facility, and because we are already absorbing some of the shortfall from patients whom do not yet have government funding in place (with HCHC), we are unable to  be extend credit to patients. We are grateful to you for paying your bill on the day you attend. We have EFTPOS and accept credit cards (5% surcharge), accept cheques with a bankers card and cash.

HUTT CITY HEALTH CENTRE IS A BOTH A RNZCGP TEACHING PRACTICE AND ‘CORNERSTONE’ ACCREDITED

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Last updated: Tuesday, 30 August 2011. WEBSITE STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION