This topic has been written to help New Zealanders or visitors to New Zealand understand how the health system works.
When you need healthcare, here's what you do
When you or someone in your family is unwell the first point of contact is usually a primary healthcare provider such as a general practitioner (GP), practice nurse, midwife, local accident and medical centre, family planning clinic, pharmacist (chemist), physiotherapist, optometrist (for eye care), dentist or complementary health practitioner.
Your local GP and community-based accident and medical centres can treat many injuries and complaints. If your condition requires hospital care a GP or midwife can give you a letter of referral to see a specialist (either in a public hospital or private clinic).
For all serious injuries and complaints you should go to a public hospital emergency department directly or in an ambulance (phone 111 if it is a life-threatening emergency).
If you are not sure about whether you need medical help you can phone Healthline on freephone 0800 611 116. Healthline lets you talk to a registered nurse any time, 24 hours a day, and it is free and confidential. The staff at Healthline will advise you what action to take. Healthline also incorporates PlunketLine, which is responsible for advice for children under five years of age.
Where to find a GP or accident and medical centre
GPs and medical clinics can be found in the front of the telephone directory ("White Pages") under the section "Registered Medical Practitioners". Hospitals and other health services are also listed in the telephone directory.
Where to find a pharmacist
Pharmacists generally work in pharmacies in surburban shopping centres or malls. Pharmacies are also situated near to medical centres. Pharmacies are listed in the "Yellow Pages" directory.
Pharmacists can offer advice on the safety and correct use of medicines and some health problems. They are able to sell you over-the-counter medicines, which do not require a doctor's prescription, and dispense medicines you have been prescribed by your doctor.
There is generally no charge to talk to a pharmacist about your health or medicines. But not all staff in a pharmacy are pharmacists, so if seeking specific health or medicine advice ask to speak to the pharmacist in the store.
Where to find a midwife
Domiciliary midwives, hospital-based midwifery services and independent midwives are listed under "Hospitals and other Health Services" at the front of the telephone directory ("White Pages"). Also see Find a Lead Maternity Carer on the everybody website.
The Maternity Services Consumer Council has information on finding a person to care for you in pregnancy and childbirth: phone (09) 520 5314 or email mscc@maternity.org.nz
The New Zealand College of Midwives can also help you find a midwife. Write to NZCOM, Box 21 106, Christchurch, or phone (03) 377 2732 or email nzcom@nzcom.org.nz
Where to find sexual health and contraception services
Family planning clinics provide sexual health, contraception and fertility health care. Look in the telephone directory ("White Pages") under "Family Planning". Family planning clinics charge similar fees to GPs; however, Family Planning Services are free for people aged under 22 years. Clinic locations and fees can also be found on their website www.familyplanning.org.nz, or you can call freephone 0800 Info Line – 0800 4636 5463.
Sexual health services attached to public hospitals provide free, confidential, specialist sexual healthcare. You do not need to be referred by your GP, you can contact the service directly. Look in the telephone directory under "Sexual Health" or under your local hospital.
Where to find a physiotherapist, dentist, chiropractor, osteopath or optometrist
- To find a physiotherapist who is a member of the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists, go to their website www.physiotherapy.org.nz or look in the "Yellow Pages".
- For dentists, the Dental Council of New Zealand website www.dcnz.org.nz has a search facility for registered dentists, or look in the "Yellow Pages".
- For a list of New Zealand chiropractors try the New Zealand Chiropractors' Association website www.chiropractic.org.nz or freephone 0508 424 476 for their nearest member.
- For a list of osteopaths, visit the Osteopathic Society of New Zealand website www.osnz.org
- A list of optometrists can be found at the New Zealand Association of Optometrists website, www.nzao.org.nz or freephone 0800 439 322 or look in the "Yellow Pages".
Where to find a complementary or natural therapist
Many natural therapists are registered with the New Zealand Natural Health Practitioners Accreditation Board. You can write for a list of registered natural therapists to Box 37 491, Auckland. This covers homoeopaths, osteopaths, herbalists, remedial body therapists and some other specialties. You can also look in the "'Yellow Pages" under "Natural Therapy". When looking for a healthcare provider, ask other people which practitioner they recommend and check out whether their service might suit your needs. Community health groups and women's health groups might also be able to help. Ask your local Citizen's Advice Bureau (phone number in the telephone book) how to contact them.
The 'Big Picture'
Each year the Government decides how much public money will be spent on healthcare. This is called "Vote: Health". The Government, through the minister of health, allocates money to the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to purchase health services for the people of New Zealand. This money is allocated using a weighted population-based funding formula.
The Government provides broad guidelines on what services the DHBs must provide. These services can be bought from a range of providers including public hospitals, non-profit health agencies, iwi groups or private organisations.
Each DHB has a board of directors, some of whom are appointed by the Minister of Health and some locally elected. There is Maori representation both on the Boards and their committees.
The DHBs run public hospitals and other services, such as the National Cervical Screening Programme, health promotion activities and public health nursing services.
Private healthcare can also be purchased. Private providers include private hospitals, laboratories, and radiology centres, medical specialists and general practitioners.
Community-based and non-profit providers such as the Family Planning, Plunket or IHC can also apply to be funded to provide health services.
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Original material supplied by everybody. Information current as of August 2005.
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