Fears doctors’ bills may cause cash-strapped ill to stay at home

Waikato families concerned about the cost of doctors’ bills this winter are being urged to consider seeing their nurse or pharmacist instead.

Winter officially arrives on June 1 and with it comes a surge of seasonal sickness.

But a visit to the doctor may be unaffordable for many families already snowed under by the increased cost of living.

Hamilton Budget Advisory Trust manager Clare Mataira said that some sickness would go undiagnosed and untreated this winter because people simply could not afford medical care.

“If they [visits] are going to be very expensive sometimes people just don’t go.

“There could very well be children not being taken to the doctor because of costs.”

Prices from 10 local medical centres found the cost of seeing a doctor for a registered adult patient is about $40. Unregistered adults will pay around $70. Children between the ages of 6-18 will cost about $25 if registered, and $40 if unregistered.

Senior citizens will also pay around $40 if registered, and anywhere up to $75 if unregistered.

In many cases there would be extra costs incurred by prescriptions, follow-up appointments, and after-hours care. But there were subsidies for Community Service Card and SuperGold Card holders.

Midlands Health Network chief executive John Macaskill-Smith said there were other options available for people put off by the price.

“I think sometimes it’s a bit more complex than just simply price being the issue. I think sometimes it’s about patients not completely understanding about what they can get from their practice.”

He said a doctor’s appointment was not necessary to treat most cases of seasonal sickness and advised patients to call their practice and discuss more affordable options such as seeing a nurse, a pharmacist, or in some cases, arranging a phone consultation with a doctor.

“Sometimes people stay away because all they think about is the price of the doctor… [But] you can access your primary healthcare teams in many different ways and therefore the cost and that barrier can be changed.”

While he was concerned about winter illness going untreated he said there was very little a doctor could do for someone with the flu and that antibiotics only eased the symptoms.

But people with pre-existing conditions should not postpone seeking medical care.

“Where we are worried is where there are complications with pre-existing chronic conditions or complications as a result of the flu.

“Our real concern is that if there are complications as a result of winter illness that people don’t leave that too late, which can then lead to acute admission to hospitals.”