Notice of Fees Increase
Dunedin North Medical Centre will be increasing fees for patients. from 11 September 2024.
The change does not include standard consultations for children under 14 years who remain free, or patients who hold Community Service Cards.
In doing this, we are joining most other clinics in the country, as healthcare continues to be desperately underfunded by Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora), while the cost of running
our clinic continues to rise. Rather than increasing our funding the government has asked us to pass that cost onto you, our patients, by increasing our fees.
Our new fees for a standard 15 minute medical or ACC consultation are:
Child (0-13) – No charge
Youth (14-17) – $40.00, *$5 discount if paid on the day, CSC holder – $13.00
Adult (18+), $65.00, *$5 discount if paid on the day, CSC holder – $19.50
Adult double appointment (30 minutes), $130.00, *$5 discount if paid on the day, CSC holder – $39.00
*Telephone consultations are the same charge as face-to-face consultations.
We join our primary care colleagues around the country in feeling deeply distressed by this situation, at a time when many of our patients are struggling with cost of living increases.
We want to continue to be here to provide excellent quality care for you, as well as maintaining good, safe working conditions for our staff. We cannot continue to do this with the insufficient funding we have been offered by Health New Zealand. We are so sorry that the Government is choosing to pass this financial burden on to you.
If this upsets you as much as it upsets us, please email or write to the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Shane Reti to voice your concerns. Please also contact your local MP with your concerns, so that your voice is heard.
We ask for your kindness toward our staff, as we are all doing our best to continue to provide care for you at this challenging time.
As always, if you are suffering financial hardship, please let our team know, so that we can do our best to support you.
If you would like to check if you are eligible for a community services’ card, you can ring 0800 999 999 or ask reception for an application form to send to Ministry for Social Development or check out https://check.msd.govt.nz/services/community-services-card.