General practice provides comprehensive primary, community-based and continuing patient-centred health care. General practice services include diagnosis, management and treatment of health conditions, continuity of care throughout life, health promotion, prevention, screening, and referral to hospital and specialist services.
Most general practice providers are affiliated with a Primary Health Organisation (PHO). PHOs help coordinate and fund a wider range of primary health services for enrolled patients.
Enrolling with a Primary Health Organisation (PHO)
What is a PHO?
Primary Health Organisations are local organisations that coordinate primary health care services. They bring together doctors, nurses and other health professionals in the community to support the needs of their enrolled populations.
PHOs receive government funding to support a range of health services. Funding is based on the people enrolled with the PHO and population characteristics. It also supports services that help people stay well and improve access to health care.
Benefits of enrolling
Enrolling is free and voluntary. You can still receive health services if you choose not to enrol. Benefits of enrolling include lower fees for eligible general practice visits and access to services linked to the PHO.
How do I enrol?
To enrol, complete an enrolment form with Ocean Breeze Health Limited. Parents or guardians can enrol children under 16 years of age. Young people aged 16 years and over need to sign their own enrolment form. All children enrolling must be enrolled with a parent.
Questions and answers
What happens if I go to another general practice?
You can visit another general practice or change practices at any time. If you are enrolled through one general practice and visit another as a casual patient, you may pay a higher fee. If you attend more than one practice, consider enrolling with the practice you visit most often.
What happens if the general practice changes to a new PHO?
If Ocean Breeze Health Limited changes to a new PHO, we will make this information available to you.
What happens if I am enrolled but don't attend very often?
If you have not received services from your general practice for a 3-year period, the practice may contact you to ask whether you wish to remain enrolled. If you cannot be contacted or do not respond, you may be removed from the practice and PHO enrolment registers. You can re-enrol later.
How do I know if I'm eligible for publicly funded health and disability services?
Please talk to our practice team. You can also contact Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora or refer to its current eligibility guidance for publicly funded health services.