Your Choices...Your Health Choosing Your Doctor Below are some frequently asked questions about choosing a doctor. If you have further questions contact your Primary Health Organisation (PHO). You can also call the Ministry of Health’s helpline: 0800 020 007. If you have an immediate health issue and need to talk to somebody about it you can call Healthline: 0800 611 116. I really like our own doctor, but I’ve recently moved house. Do I have to go to the nearest doctor? Why should I go to only one general practice? It’s easier for me to take my kids to any medical centre when we need it. How can I find out where my nearest doctor is? I called my nearest general practice because I wanted to enroll myself and my family but their books are closed. What can I do? I’ve enrolled with my PHO but do I have a choice of doctor? Can I switch if I decide I want someone else? I think I’ve enrolled with a general practice but I’m not sure. What can I do? I really like our own doctor, but I’ve recently moved house. Do I have to go to the nearest doctor? No. You have the right to choose your general practitioner and you can stay with your current one if that’s what you want. If it’s not too far to travel, it’s often recommended to stay with one doctor who knows you and your family well and who you feel most comfortable with. Why should I go to only one general practice? It’s easier for me to take my kids to any medical centre when we need it. You can go to more than one general practice if you wish. But during normal business hours, you will only get cheaper general practice fees and prescriptions from the practice belonging to the PHO in which you are enrolled. If you visit a general practice where you are not enrolled – this is called a ‘casual visit’ – you will only get reduced fees and cheaper prescriptions if you have a Community Services Card (CSC) or High Use Health Card (HUHC). How can I find out where my nearest doctor is? You could look in the white pages of your telephone book, as they usually have a section at the front listing the general practices in the area. Your Primary Health Organisation will be able to tell you where your general practices are located. Back to top I called my nearest general practice because I wanted to enroll myself and my family but their books are closed. What can I do? Some doctors may not be taking new enrolments because their books are full. If the doctor can’t take you for this reason you can contact your local Primary Health Organisation. Ask them to help you find a doctor you can enroll with. You can also contact your local District Health Board (DHB) and ask them to help you find a general practice where you can enroll. I’ve enrolled with my PHO but do I have a choice of doctor? Can I switch if I decide I want someone else? Yes, it’s up to you to choose who you want to be your regular doctor. You can change doctors if you wish, but some doctors may not be taking new enrolments because their books are full. I think I’ve enrolled with a general practice but I’m not sure. What can I do? You can call HealthPAC’s Contact Centre on 0800 252 464 and press 1 on your phone’s keypad to find out where you are enrolled. If you think you’ve enrolled within the last three months, HealthPAC’s information may not have been updated yet and you’ll have to wait until you think the three months are up and call the number then. Back to top Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this page. Page last updated: 5 October 2007

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