HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Funded physiotherapy treatment
Rongoā haumanu korikori nā te Poari Hauora i utu
If you have an injury or condition that affects your muscles, joints or bones, your general practice team may refer you to a local private physiotherapy clinic for treatment.
Some people can get funded treatment from Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Waitaha Canterbury. To be eligible, you need to meet all these criteria:
- You have a condition that affects your muscles, joints or bones that makes it very difficult to do your normal work and social activities.
- Your condition is not covered by ACC.
- You hold a Community Services Card and couldn't otherwise afford private physiotherapy.
- Your general practice team has tried all other funding options (such as Work and Income Disability Allowance).
- You agree to attend the physiotherapy clinic, do the exercises and follow the physiotherapist's advice.
- You could benefit from a short course of physiotherapy.
The process
If you meet all these criteria, your general practice team will send an electronic referral to the local physiotherapy clinic after discussing it with you. The clinic will then contact you to arrange your first appointment. If you have not heard from the clinic within a week, please call them directly.
At your first appointment, you'll need to complete a consent form and paperwork. If you need an interpreter, the physiotherapist will arrange this for free. The interpreter will be on speakerphone during your appointment.
The funding covers a limited number of treatments over three to six months. If you cannot attend an appointment, please contact the clinic to cancel it. If you do not attend and do not cancel, part of your funding may be used to cover the clinic's costs.
Your physiotherapist will give you exercises to do at home to ensure you get the best possible result. If you have any concerns between your appointments, please contact your physiotherapist directly.
Once you've finished the treatment, your general practice team will receive a brief report, which will include information about how you've progressed.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2022.
SourcesReview key: HIPHY-169329
