Free doctor visits rolled out for under-13s

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Diane Bruin said the scheme was a great idea.

More than 25,000 Bay children are now eligible for free GP visits.

The new scheme means children under the age of 13 are eligible for the free visits Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, where the child is enrolled.

After-hours visits are already fully subsidised for all children (enrolled and casual) after 5pm at Accident and Healthcare.

The new scheme, introduced yesterday, also applies to injury-related visits ACC covers and the $5 charge for each prescription medicine will be dropped for the age group.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board Primary Health portfolio manager Phil Back said the scheme would benefit thousands of youngsters.

"The BOPDHB is confident that, through local arrangements made, 95 per cent of its under-13 population will have free access to after-hours primary care and pharmacy service within 60 minutes of travel from their home."

Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation general practice co-ordinator Donna McArley said the service would be rolled out to all 25 Western Bay practices and help 25,488 children aged 0 to 12 in the region.

Children in this age group were not huge users of doctors' services but the biggest perk would be the ACC cover, she said.

Nationally, children aged up to 12 would use GP services twice a year while Western Bay of Plenty children made slightly fewer visits - averaging 1.8.

There was always an increase in services when they were offered free, and over the next 12 months the scheme would be monitored nationally to see what difference it did make, she said.

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service manager Diane Bruin said the scheme was a great idea.

"For some people, they will worry about going to the doctor if they already have a bill there and they are not paying it off so there will be a transition of children getting that support.

"People will know there is no question that their children will be seen to sort out their health, especially the vulnerable ones."

It would make a big impact for some families, she said.

"Some of these people are very proud, they want to pay their way. But now it's been made free there is no excuse, so they can take their children."

Tauranga National MP Simon Bridges said the Government was committed to giving children the best start in life.

"That means ensuring they're able to go to the doctor any time of the day or night without their parents having to worry about the cost."

With three children under the age of 10, Sheree Eagle thought the new scheme was amazing.

Mrs Eagle said her youngest child, 1, was in and out of the doctors.

"But it would definitely help us, I wouldn't hesitate to take the older ones to the doctor. You will be able to ... take the kids more willingly to the doctor as opposed to waiting to see if things do get worse or better."