Amanda McMahon with daughter Brooke, 8. McMahon has three children between the ages of 6 and 12 who will be eligible for free doctors visits when Government changes kick in on July 1.

Two Marlborough medical practices and the region's after-hours service have held off offering free doctors' visits to children under the age of 13.

The Government announced as part of last year's Budget that children under the age of 13 would be eligible for free general practice visits and prescriptions from July 1.

General practices across New Zealand can choose whether they opt into the scheme.

Marlborough Primary Health Organisation chief executive officer Beth Tester has confirmed that Blenheim medical practices Lister Court Medical and Francis Street Medical would not be extending free doctors' visits to under 13s when the Government changes kick in on Wednesday

The Marlborough After-Hours GP service had also chosen not to opt in to the scheme.

The practices would be reviewing their stance on the issue over the next month, Tester said.

All Marlborough medical practices, including Francis Street and Lister Court, would remove surcharges on ACC appointments for under 13s, she said.

Each individual practice had the choice about whether they would opt into the scheme.

"For business reasons and because of capacity issues these practices decided not to, which is their right and we respect that."

It was unclear how many more patients would turn up for appointments when the changes took effect.

Under 6 presentations increased by more than 30 per cent within Marlborough primary care when that age group was given free appointments, Tester said.

"Once you introduce a free service there's always a chance of an increase in presentations and with the capacity issues we have in primary care at the moment it could be challenging."

The funding provided to general practices was on the basis that each child would have two visits to the doctor per year, Tester said.

"Some children will turn up more. Some children will turn up less.

"It's only over time that we'll sort out whether [the funding is] appropriate."

People who wanted to switch to a GP who offered free appointments would be unable to do so because Marlborough general practices had closed their books to new patients.

The Marlborough Primary Health Organisation had a waiting list of 30 people who were looking to enrol with a GP, Tester said.

The last time the waiting list had grown to that level was about five years ago when the Wairau Community Clinic was established, she said.

Some Marlborough medical practices were expected to open their books again in just over a month, Tester said.

"We will be able to trickle people through before that but for easier access it will be August."

Lister Court Medical practice manager Jo Walker said the decision not to offer free doctors' visits for under 13s would be monitored and reviewed by the practice.

The practice was given information about the change at short notice and not all of the practice partners were available at the time.

"We weren't happy to rush this important decision."

Funding should be targeted at the children who needed it most, Walker said.

Practice staff were concerned that the change would result in an increase in the frequency of appointments but not the severity of patient presentations.

For example, at the moment some parents of children under 6 made a doctor's appointment so they could get a prescription for paracetamol and did not have to buy it, Walker said.

"This means patients of greater need may have to wait longer to be seen as we will have less appointment spaces available for those who may need them.

Francis Street Medical practice manager Anna Young said there was a shortage of doctor appointments in Blenheim and extra attendances because of free visits would have an adverse effect overall on healthcare delivery.

Reduced cost visits should be targeted at those most in need, and the practice had made provision to do that, Young said.

The Marlborough After-Hours GP service could not be reached for comment.

Blenheim mother Amanda McMahon has four children enrolled at Redwoodtown Doctors, including three children between the ages of 6 and 12 who will be eligible for free doctor's appointments from July 1.

McMahon said she was "absolutely delighted" at the change.

"I'm over the moon. I think it's long overdue."

Her family would spend up to $200 per week on doctor's visits and prescriptions.

"This will be really good because if we're having a hard week financially it won't be an added stress if one of the kids gets sick."

McMahon said would often take her children to the Marlborough after-hours service and hoped that they would come on board with the scheme.

"There's nothing more stressful than having a child with a high temperature at 11pm at night and thinking 'I don't have $40 to take them [to after-hours]'."