Dear patient,

It is with regret that we have had to recently increase the fees we charge you, our patients.

We have tried to hold off from increasing our fees as we know households are struggling at the moment with the increased cost of living. We understand, this increase will only make healthcare more unaffordable and more inequitable.

However, with government funding increasing at only 4% in the last year, and our costs having risen more than 9% this last 12 months alone, we have been left with no other choice.

We have warned the government on multiple occasions that if they didn’t increase funding levels, we would have to increase fees to help cover our costs or we would have to close the practice. Frustratingly, our warnings have been disregarded.

Please know this is the last resort, and is not a decision we have taken lightly, as we truly understand the impact this will have on whānau.

We strongly encourage you to write to the Minister of Health, Dr Shane Reti, along with your local MP expressing your dismay at the increase in fees and outlining the impact the increase will have on you and your whānau. Scan the QR code using your phone’s camera or a QR code reader app. Next, click the yellow button to get into your email app and then press send.

Ngā mihi nui,
Your practice team

Download a PDF version of this statement >>

We would like to assure you that despite the increase in fees on 16th September, 2024 all current free services will remain FREE. These include the following:

• ALL CHILDREN UNDER 14.
• ALL SMEARS.
• ALL CURRENT FREE NURSE SERVICES.
• MOST MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATIONS UNDER WELLNESS SUPPORT.
• ALL SEXUAL HEALTH CONSULTS FOR UNDER 25 YEAR OLDS.
• MANY CURRENT CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION CONSULTATIONS WHICH ARE NOW FREE.
  For all patients with a community service card there is no fee change at all.