CareHQ, the online GP service and joint venture between ProCare and Southern Cross, has expanded to bring the ease and convenience of telehealth consultations to people visiting New Zealand.
The virtual GP service has already been in operation for two years, providing essential consults for New Zealanders as traditional healthcare providers found themselves stretched through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, CareHQ is offering a telehealth service for short-term visitors to New Zealand who are not enrolled at a GP practice. This includes non-New Zealand residents, international visitors, and international students.
CareHQ Clinical Director Dr Reza Jarral said a virtual consult with a CareHQ GP will hold strong appeal for international visitors, instead of trying to access an after-hours clinic or emergency department for their health care needs.
“Trying to navigate the health care system in a foreign country can be a daunting process. CareHQ’s virtual GP service promises to be an easy solution for visitors to access the care they need, when they need it, delivered by a Specialist GP Fellow,” he said.
“A virtual consult is also an excellent choice for visitors who may be staying in parts of New Zealand where the nearest GP is some distance away.
“The past few years have really shown people how useful telehealth services like CareHQ can be, and we’re looking forward to sharing that convenience of care with short-term visitors to the country.”
International visitors needing additional care, such as a specialist referral, may require a NHI (National Health Identification) number to be created. By uploading their photo ID. CareHQ can create this for them.
International visitor consults cost $99.95, which may be able to be claimed back on travel insurance.
Visit carehq.co.nz for more information.
About CareHQ
CareHQ is a virtual consultation service that provides New Zealanders with a convenient and easy to use telehealth consultations with specialist General Practitioners (GP), there for when they can’t see their regular GP or need support after-hours.
CareHQ is made possible by a partnership between Southern Cross Health Insurance and ProCare however CareHQ exists as an independent service from both these organisations.
Collectively Southern Cross Health Insurance and ProCare already care for and are trusted by more than one million New Zealanders:
Southern Cross has more than 920,000 members
ProCare supports 170 general practices across Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau, covering more than 850,000 enrolled patients.
About Southern Cross Health Insurance
Southern Cross Health Insurance has been supporting New Zealanders on their health journeys since 1961. Today, we provide cover for almost one in five New Zealanders every year.
As a not-for-profit friendly society, Southern Cross Health Insurance operates solely for the benefit of members, rather than shareholders or overseas owners. We pay more claims than any other New Zealand health insurer and are proud of our industry-leading rate of return, $5.03 billion returned in claims over past five years[1], out of $5.82 billion received in premiums – representing more than 86 per cent of premiums returned to members in claims.
Southern Cross is a group of independent businesses united by a shared brand with an interest in the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. With a range of products and services and a not-for-profit ethos, Southern Cross is New Zealand’s leading independent provider and funder of healthcare.
About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation service, and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 850,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
