Monday 6 August 2012 Contract Signed for Free After Hours Primary Care Visits for Rotorua Children Under Six Rotorua now has free after hours visits to the doctor for children under six, following the signing of a contract with Lakes PrimeCare. Lakes DHB has been working with Lakes PrimeCare to agree a service, starting this week. Free after hours visits for under-sixes in Taupo and Turangi is already in place, and the agreement with Lakes PrimeCare now ensures free after hours primary care for under sixes across the Lakes district. All general practices in the Lakes district offer free care for enrolled children under six years. The agreement with Lakes PrimeCare means that enrolled children now have free care after hours, in the time between their regular GP surgery closing each weekday, and the Lakes PrimeCare facility in Rotorua, which is open weekdays, weekends and public holidays from 8am to 10pm. Lakes DHB has worked in partnership with Health Rotorua PHO, Lakes PrimeCare and the Midlands Health Network to ensure that children under six will be able to access free primary health care. The Minister of Health Tony Ryall says free after hours care for under sixes is an important preventative health measure as parents are more likely to take their child to the doctor for treatment before their condition becomes severe. The Minister says it will also help reduce the numbers of young children presenting to our busy hospital emergency departments with an illness or injury that a GP could have treated. ends