Media response
There has been no change to Government funding of free health services (GP visits and subsidised prescriptions) for children up to the age of 14 in New Zealand. This continues to be in place. Full information can be found here: https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/free-health-services-for-children/free-health-checks-for-children-under-14/
In 2016 the Board of the Hawke’s Bay DHB made a historic decision to extend free GP visits beyond the Government’s policy to under-18s in selected practices due to growing concern of poor health and poor health outcomes among rangatahi, with many emergency department visits and avoidable hospitalisations of Māori and Pasifika patients occurring due to unmet need. These GP practices were selected with a high proportion of Māori and Pasifika patients in areas of low deprivation by taking away barriers to healthcare and encouraging/fostering positive health experiences between rangatahi and their GP.
The Board has constantly reviewed this policy and was able to further extend free GP visits for this age group to other practices. At all times general practice have been aware this additional service is under regular review to ensure funding continues to support pockets of unmet need to drive better health outcomes.
A recent review of services revealed a decline in uptake in low deprivation areas and a call for co-design of health services, to better meet growing needs of our rangatahi Māori and Pasifika population. As a result, the DHB made the decision to extend free healthcare to Hawke’s Bay rangatahi up to the age of 24 years at selected practices to better meet these needs.
All General Practice’s across Hawke’s Bay were notified in October 2021 that the existing under 18 funding would be ending due to a lower uptake than expected of rangatahi into these services and repurposed into new Hawke’s Bay rangatahi services.
The DHB has worked with rangatahi to co-design a new service which has a kaupapa Māori foundation.
New service co-designed
Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga is leading Te Kahui Waiora collective to deliver this service across Hawke’s Bay to ensure rangatahi have all their needs met, including health and social services.
These services are currently operating in a transitional period with the full service to be operational by 1 July 2022. The following services are accessible to all young people under 24 including GP visits, and are provided at no cost:
- Free access to services that provide sexual health, mental health and addictions and basic youth healthcare and treatment.
- Free access to a General Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner as required by rangatahi.
- Free presciptions for rangatahi.
These services can be accessed at the following locations:
- Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Trust (Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay)
- Kahungunu Health Services, (Flaxmere)
- Te Kupenga Hauora Ahuriri (Napier)
- Roopu a Iwi Trust (Napier) and
- Kahungunu Executive (Wairoa)
If patients prefer to book an appointment at their own practice (which isn’t part of the collective), they will be charged accordingly.
It is up to each individual general practice to determine how much they charge patients with costs varying per individual business. This is a business decision that general practices make independently and not a decision of the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. Some General Practices choose not to charge. Full details of GP fees for enrolled patients can be viewed here: GP fees for enrolled patients - Hawkes Bay District Health Board – Our Health (ourhealthhb.nz)
The DHB has kept general practices well informed about the funding review and the reasoning behind changes. It has also provided general practices with information to pass on to their patients.
Any young person under 24 in Hawke’s Bay (even unenrolled) can access free healthcare through the Te Kahui Waiora collective.
Media: Please attribute to Emma Foster, Executive Director Planning and Funding.
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