Those who aren’t new arrivals in town will know that we have always worked to provide an affordable service with many free and discounted services. Contraceptive visits have been free for 25 years, long before the PHA free Sexual Health visits for under 25 year-olds that are now available at all PHA practices. Other PHA initiatives such as smoking cessation visits, Diabetes Annual Reviews and Heart Health Assessments and Palliative Care visits are available at Tarawera Medical Centre, like all other EBPHA practices. We have also provided free smears to all our patients for many years. Over 10 years ago we brought Very Low Cost Access to Kawerau which saw visits for all adults drop from $30+ to $16 and have only slowly increased to $17.50 (this is a government capped fee). In addition, all children under 18 and all ACC visits are free. The one service that we offer to our patients, that no other practice in the Eastern Bay can offer to their enrolled patients is free skin cancer surgery for eligible cancers up to Advance Plus level. Patients enrolled in other practices need to travel to Tarawera Medical Centre to access this level of skin cancer surgery.

All these free services are available from 8 to 6 every weekday, with walk in clinics every morning from 8 to 12 and again on Friday afternoon from 4:30. Booked appointments are available every day as well. We don’t shut down over lunch and you are always seen by fully qualified nurses and doctors as we don’t employ health care assistants with limited clinical training. Having recently celebrated 25 years in town with our third surgery update and extension we are enjoying the continued loyalty and support of our long established and many newly enrolled patients.