Starship Foundation

Conditions, tests & treatments A-Z
Keeping your child well
Parent support
Abuse
Disabilities or chronic conditions
Early intervention
Emergencies -dialling 111
Financial help (raising a family)
Financial help (for disability)
Grief, loss, change
Health system
DHBs (District Health Boards)
Finding a hospital
Health care - how much can it cost?
PHOs (Primary Health Organisations)
Where to find health care
Helping your child manage treatment
How can I tell if my child is sick?
Needs assessment
Pain
Palliative care for children
Receiving a diagnosis
Rights
Special education
What health and disability services s...
Support groups A-Z
Health Professionals

PHOs (Primary Health Organisations)


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

What are PHOs (Primary Health Organisations)?

PHOs (Primary Health Organisations) are groups of GPs (general practitioners or doctors), nurses and other health professionals who provide your family with health care. Your PHO team will work with your family to:
  • prevent illness and
  • treat your child when they need it
Your PHO is usually your first contact when your child is sick.
 

 Back to Top

What are the advantages of belonging to a PHO?

Belonging to a PHO practice and taking your child to see your regular family doctor and other members of the practice team is better for you and your family. The practice team gets to know your child and their health needs. Your child has the benefits of a long-term relationship with the practice team. The benefits also include cheaper doctors visits and reduced costs on prescription medicines.
 

 Back to Top

How do I join a PHO?

Anyone can join a PHO. Enrolment in a PHO is voluntary, but people are encouraged to join a PHO in order to gain the benefits associated with belonging to a PHO.
 
Most general practices are now part of a PHO. If you are not enrolled in a PHO, ask your regular doctor if they are part of a PHO.

To enrol, usually you will have to sign a form which the doctor, nurse or medical centre receptionist will give you. The form will usually ask you for your personal details such as name, age, date of birth, address and ethnicity. The information collected at enrolment comes under the Privacy Act 1993 and the Health Information Privacy Code 1994, so the privacy of your information is protected.
You can only enrol in one PHO at a time, but you can change PHOs if you wish.
 
You can check your enrolment details by calling 0800 252 464 (0800 HLTH 4 U).
 
The leaflet Enrolling with a PHO: Answering your questions describes what a PHO is, and explains enrolment in more detail.
 

 Back to Top

Information in other languages

The following fact sheet is produced by the ARPHS (Auckland Regional Public Health Services), Refugee Health:
The fact sheet is available in the following languages (on the page NZ health services - look under the PHO heading):
  • English
  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Dari
  • Farsi
  • Pashto
  • Somali
Although the fact sheet is produced in Auckland, it contains general information and applies to the whole of New Zealand.
 

 Back to Top

Where to go for more information

everybody.co.nz
everybody is a consumer health information website published by CMPMedica (NZ) Ltd. The website has an article about primary health organisations.
 
Ministry of Health
 

 Back to Top

Your notes

Print this page

Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 22/07/2010

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2010


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz