HEALTHY MOVE: All doctor visits for kids under six are to be free.

Doctors have scrapped fees for under-sixes in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti Coast as they feared parents would wait to take their children to free after-hours clinics.

From Sunday, all children under six who need medical care will get it free, regardless of the time of day.

The move coincides with the Government directed roll out of the zero-fee scheme for after-hours clinics.

Capital and Coast District Health Board worked with Compass Primary Healthcare Network, Cosine PHO, Well Health PHO and Ora Toa PHO to make GP visits during regular business hours free for young children.

"When kids are unwell, it's important that they get medical treatment quickly,'' Capital and Coast clinical leader paediatrics Andrew Marshall said.

"Children under six can be especially susceptible to illnesses and can deteriorate quickly so it's important that they get the right care, at the right time and in the right place.''

The 51 Compass primary health organisation practices were charging anything from $5 to $30 for this age group. Other practices were not charging for under-sixes.

Compass chairman and Johnsonville GP Richard Tyler said GPs were prompted to make childrens' appointments free to line up with the after-hours scheme.

"Some parents certainly would have waited to take their children to after hours.''

He said scrapping fees would see "very little'' change in fees for other age groups.

The Government controls how much doctors can increase fees each year - this year the increase is less than two per cent.

Porirua GP Larry Jordan said free after-hours care would improve access to healthcare for children.

"For a GP in the community it's important that I know that my patients can get the care they need when my practice isn't open.''

The move is also expected to help reduce the number of young children being taken to hospital emergency departments.

The zero-fee after-hours scheme was estimated to cost the Government about $7 million a year.

Nationally, after-hours fees for under-sixes vary from $0 to nearly $100 per consultation, with an estimated average fee of $17.

Wairarapa DHB introduced free after-hours visits for under sixes last month. It had previously charged $5, a spokeswoman said.

GPs in the region already offered free doctors visits during regular business hours for under-sixes.



Free urgent after hours care for children under six is available from the following practices:

Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical Centre, 17 Adelaide Road, Newtown, 04 384 4944

Kenepuru Accident and Medical, Kenepuru Hospital, 04 918 2300

Team Medical, Coastlands Mall, State Highway 1, Kapiti, 04 297 3000

Masterton Medical Centre, 24 Lincoln Road, Masterton, 06 370 0011

Contact Bronwyn Torrie

Health reporter

Email: bronwyn.torrie@dompost.co.nz

Twitter: @brontorrie