For urgent after-hours in-person care the nearest clinic is White Cross Ascot, 90 Greenlane East, Remuera, Auckland. Phone 09 520 9555. For emergencies, please call an ambulance 111, or go to Auckland City Hospital, Park Road, Grafton.
Plenty of the people who need a doctor in central Auckland are not enrolled with a practice nearby. Some are visiting from overseas or from another part of New Zealand. Some work in the city and are enrolled with a GP close to home, which is no help at 11am on a Tuesday. Others have just arrived and have not got round to enrolling anywhere yet.
You can still see a GP. This guide explains how a casual appointment works at CityMed, what it costs and why, how ACC and travel insurance fit in, and what to bring so the visit is as useful as possible.
Yes. CityMed sees casual patients as well as enrolled patients. A casual patient is simply anyone who is not enrolled with us, whether you are enrolled with another New Zealand practice, not enrolled anywhere, or visiting from overseas.
Our GP consultations are booked in 15 minute slots. That is usually enough for one main problem and perhaps one minor one. If you have several things to discuss, or think you will need longer, ask for a double appointment when you book. There is an additional fee for longer appointments.
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm, at Ground Level, Quay West Building, 8 Albert Street, in the Auckland CBD. We are closed on weekends.
For most problems, book ahead. You can book online or call reception on 09 377 5525, and booking means a doctor has time set aside for you rather than fitting you in around a full list.
For urgent cases, walk in appointments are available. Our accident and urgent medical service covers a broad range of injuries and urgent problems, including wounds that need stitches and injuries that need plastering. If you are not sure whether your problem counts as urgent, phone first and the team will advise.
If you have cold or flu symptoms, call before you come in. Cold and flu like illnesses are first assessed with a virtual consultation, to protect other patients in the clinic. If the doctor then needs to examine you, we arrange to see you safely in a separate part of the clinic. Our guide to fever and cough covers the symptoms that are worth getting checked.
Fees in New Zealand general practice depend on who you are, not just on what the appointment is for. CityMed is part of a Primary Health Organisation, which means government subsidies reduce the fee for patients who are enrolled with us. Casual patients do not receive that subsidy, so the fee is higher.
Our fees page lists the current rates for each group. In broad terms:
| If you are | Fee category | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled with CityMed | Enrolled | The lowest rate, because the subsidy applies |
| A New Zealand resident not enrolled with us | Casual | Tell us if you hold a Community Services Card, as this may reduce your fee |
| Injured in an accident | Casual ACC | A separate rate applies when the visit is for an accident injury |
| A visitor or non-resident | Non-resident / Visitor | A separate visitor rate applies, including for ACC visits |
| Claiming on overseas insurance | Overseas insurance fee | Mention this when you book so the paperwork is ready |
Casual patients pay in advance, by EFTPOS, PayWave or credit card. Longer appointments, procedures and consumables can add to the cost, and tests are charged separately for people who are not eligible for funded care. Laboratory tests are priced by Labtests, and X-rays and scans by the radiology provider. If cost will affect your decision, ask at reception before the appointment.
If you hold a Community Services Card, our article on what the card covers explains how it works with GP fees.
ACC, the Accident Compensation Corporation, helps with the cost of treatment for injuries caused by accidents in New Zealand. This generally applies to visitors as well as residents, so if you sprain an ankle on the waterfront or cut your hand at work, the visit can usually be lodged as an ACC claim.
ACC covers injuries, not illnesses. A chest infection, a rash or a urine infection is a normal consultation, even if it started while you were travelling. The doctor lodges the claim at the appointment, so it helps to know when, where and how the injury happened. X-rays and physiotherapy are both available on site at CityMed, which is useful if an injury needs either.
ACC does not cover everything. You will usually still pay a part of the consultation fee, and for visitors it does not replace travel insurance for costs such as getting home or extra accommodation.
Most visitors to New Zealand pay for GP care themselves and then claim it back from their travel insurer. Policies differ, so check yours before the appointment if you can. Some insurers ask for a specific form or a written report, and our fee list includes an overseas insurance fee for a standard 15 minute doctor's consultation where that paperwork is needed.
Keep your receipt and any notes or referral letters. Your insurer will usually want them.
If you are continuing your trip and need vaccinations or advice for the next leg, that is a separate appointment with our travel medicine team, and it is worth booking it a few weeks before you leave. If you are applying for a visa and need an immigration medical in Auckland, that is also a different appointment type, so please say so when you book.
A casual visit is a first meeting, and the doctor has none of your history in front of them. A few things make a big difference:
Prescriptions written overseas generally cannot be filled at a New Zealand pharmacy. If you are running low on a regular medicine, book a GP appointment rather than waiting until it runs out. The doctor will review what you take and decide whether a New Zealand prescription is appropriate. CityMed has an on-site pharmacy, so a prescription can usually be filled before you leave.
CityMed is a weekday clinic. When we are closed:
Call 111 straight away for chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, severe bleeding, or any situation where someone's life may be at risk. Do not wait for a GP appointment.
If you are eligible for funded health care in New Zealand and expect to keep seeing a doctor in the city, enrolling is usually worth it. Enrolled patients at CityMed save up to $45 on every consultation compared with casual rates, and the same practice holds your history, results and prescriptions. Enrolled patients can also use the Manage My Health portal to book, view test results and order repeat prescriptions.
You can only be enrolled with one practice at a time, so moving to CityMed means leaving your current GP. Many people who work in the CBD find a practice near the office easier to get to than one near home. You can enrol with CityMed online.
Yes. Visitors can book a casual appointment at a GP clinic. At CityMed, visitors pay the non-resident rate in advance and can usually claim the cost back from their travel insurer. Injuries from accidents in New Zealand are generally covered by ACC for visitors too.
No. We see casual patients as well as enrolled patients. Casual fees are higher because the government subsidy only applies to enrolled patients, and casual patients pay in advance.
Walk in appointments are available for urgent cases. For anything else, please book online or call 09 377 5525, so a doctor has time set aside for you. If you have cold or flu symptoms, call first.
No. CityMed is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm. On weekends and in the evening, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice, or visit White Cross Ascot for urgent in person care. In an emergency, call 111.
ACC helps with the cost of treating injuries caused by accidents, for visitors and residents. It does not cover illness. You will usually still pay part of the fee, and the doctor lodges the claim at the appointment.
A New Zealand doctor needs to assess you before writing a prescription, because overseas prescriptions generally cannot be filled here. Bring the packet or a list of your medicines and doses to the appointment.
CityMed offers GP consultations for enrolled patients, casual patients and visitors at 8 Albert Street, Auckland CBD.
Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm. Walk in appointments are available for urgent cases.
Book online, or call 09 377 5525. Current fees are on our fees page.
This article is general information about using a GP clinic and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Fees, funding and insurance rules change, so please check our fees page or call the clinic for current details. In an emergency, call 111.
Patient information | Reviewed by Dr. Terry Zhang, GP | CityMed Medical Centre, Auckland CBD
