Frequently asked questions


What is a Primary Health Organisation?

A group of primary health care providers responsible for organizing and delivering primary health care to meet the needs of those enrolled with them.

A PHO provides opportunities for communities, iwi and enrolled patients to have their say about the services the PHO provides.

A PHO receives a set of amount of funding from the Government to subsidise a range of health services. The funding is based on the numbers and characteristics (e.g. age, sex, and ethnicity) of people enrolled with them.

The funding pays for services to:

  • Help people to stay healthy
  • Provide care and treatment when people are ill
  • Reach out to those groups in their community who have poor health or who are missing out on primary health care


What is Primary Health Care?

Primary health care is usually the first contact you have with health professionals e.g. when you visit your GP and nurse or when a nurse visits you at a marae based service or in your home. It is not hospital care but professional health care that is usually near to where you and your family or whanau live and work. Your GP and nurse provide most of your primary care.


How does being enrolled with a whanau/family doctor with TKOH PHO benefit me?

  • QUALITY care
  • LOW COST or FREE SERVICES
  • Access to other health care services
  • A long term relationship with your doctor, the practice team and other health professionals


What does enrolling with a TKOH PHO Health Care provider mean?

  • You plan to get most of your ongoing health care here;
  • We work together to meet your health needs;
  • We will work with wider health and community services professionals to improve the health of everyone enrolled with us.


I don’t currently have GP. What should I do?

You are welcome to enrol with any one of our practices, please go to our clinics to find a clinic suitable or nearest to you.


Can I visit another health provider for personal reasons or to seek a second opinion and still remain your patient?

Yes. You will be asked to complete a casual patient enrolment form. Signing a casual enrolment form means you will still remain an enrolled patient at your normal GP clinic.


What happens if I visit another service when I am away?

The health service provider will check with you about sending your health information to your usual doctor or health service.


What if I want to change my GP and enrol somewhere else?

You can leave or change your GP and PHO at any time. You will have to complete an enrolment form at the clinic in which you want to enrol at and sign a form to say that you consent to having your medical records transferred to the new clinic. Your new clinic will then arrange for your medical records to be transferred to them and will then receive funding as a fully enrolled patient at their clinic.


If I enrol with you, will I still be able to use my Community Services Card and/or High User Health Card?

Yes, you will be able to use these cards although in areas where there are higher numbers of people with poorer health, reduced fees or even free care may be available immediately. The Community Services card will also reduce the cost of prescriptions prescribed by your doctor.


What happens to my health information?

Your enrolment information is used to build an enrolment register. The register is sent to the Ministry of Health where your non identifiable information will remain confidential.

The Ministry uses the information to:

  • Identify health services in your community
  • Monitor quality of care
  • Calculate funding for the PHO
  • Maintain accurate records

Your health information will be kept with your health service provider or doctor. To ensure you always get the best possible health care, your GP or nurse may send some of this information to other health professionals in most instances (unless governed by legislation) this will be with your consent.


Why do you want to know about my ethnicity?

  • For a number of reasons some ethnic groups require a more health focused service. PHOs need to know the ethnic group of people enrolled with them so that services can be arranged to meet their needs
  • We are committed to whanau/family and community focused care that operates from a paradigm of health and wellness
  • We will ensure all services are safe, effective, patients-centred and culturally appropriate
  • We will provide health care services that are of high quality and will continually seek to improve the quality of this care


Where can I go for Afterhour services?

Your enrolment with our practice covers you for care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Afterhours arrangements vary from practice to practice. Please ask at your practice reception for details.