Our current wait times are different for each clinician but in general our current wait times for initial assessments are:

General Psychiatry Assessments: 6-12 weeks

ADHD Psychiatry Assessments: 12-16 weeks (Please note we are currently closed to new ADHD referrals)

Psychology Assessment: 4-6 weeks

A Psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor who has also completed 5 years further training, specialising in mental health. They are specialised in the assessment and management of mental health issues and often work in collaboration with other mental health professionals. Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication and do therapy.

Clinical psychologists train for a minimum of 7 years at university and are able to assess, diagnose and treat people with mental health issues and psychological difficulties. They are specialised in learning about how people's feelings, actions, beliefs, and experiences affect the way they live and to help people make changes in their life. Clinical psychologists base treatment on scientific evidence. Practising clinical psychologists are registered with the New Zealand Psychologist's Board.

Our practitioners offer a range of scientifically validated psychological therapies depending on each person's struggles. These include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which focuses on identifying and changing a person's negative thought patterns and behaviors to help develop healthier thought patterns and coping strategies.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which helps people to open up to accept their difficult thoughts and feelings rather than avoid them, while committing to actions aligned with personal values to help live a meaningful life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of CBT that combines behavioral science with mindfulness and acceptance strategies to help individuals regulate emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and tolerate distress.

Mostly we see adults aged 18 years and over. We also can offer psychological treatment to adolescents aged 13 years and older depending on the difficulties the person is experiencing.

To see a psychiatrist, a referral from your GP is required even if you have been a client/patient with any other provider.

To see a clinical psychologist a referral is not essential but is always helpful.

Please note that it may take up to 4-6 weeks from the time your referral is received or from your initial enquiry until you are contacted regarding an appointment date.

If you are currently under the care of a Psychiatrist at Christchurch PsychMed you may be able to request a repeat prescription.

Please check out the Terms of Agreement by reading the text below.

Alternatively you can click on the document below to access this information.

Ordering a Repeat Prescription

Before ordering a repeat prescription please contact your pharmacy to ensure you have no repeats remaining on the medication(s) you are requesting a repeat prescription for. Please also ensure that you have allowed adequate time between picking up your last script and ordering a new script.

If you agree to the terms above, you can order a repeat prescription by sending an email to info@christchurchpsychmed.co.nz or by phoning us on 03 356 1150 and providing the following information:

• Your full name

• Your date of birth

• The medications you need a repeat of and the dosage required

• The name of the pharmacy you would like your script sent to

Please allow 3-5 days for your script to be sent.

The cost of a repeat prescription is $55 and this fee must be paid on the day your script is sent.

Christchurch Psych Med Terms of Agreement for Requesting Repeat Prescriptions without a clinical consultation.

1. Purpose

This document outlines the terms and conditions under which patients of Psychiatrists working out of the Christchurch PsychMed Clinic may request and obtain repeat prescriptions. By requesting a repeat prescription, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.

2. Eligibility for Repeat Prescriptions

• Repeat prescriptions are available only to existing patients who have been assessed and prescribed medication by one of the ChCh PMed Psychiatrists and whose usual clinician is available.

• Patients must be enrolled with a GP practice.

• Patients must be clinically stable on their current medication and under ongoing care with the clinic.

• The psychiatrist must determine that a repeat prescription is clinically appropriate without the need for an in-person or virtual consultation.

3. Eligibility for Repeat Prescriptions if usual clinician is not available

In circumstances where repeat prescriptions are requested by an existing patient whose usual clinician is not available and the GP is not able to prescribe it may be possible to request a prescription by a different clinician at Christchurch PsychMed.

Please note that there is an expectation that patients will have approached their GP for this script before requesting this from a ChCh PMed Clinician.

The decision for a ChCh PMed clinician to prescribe is decided on a case by case basis and in this situation:

• Patients must also be enrolled with a GP practice.

• Patients must be clinically stable on their current medication and under ongoing care with the clinic.

• The psychiatrist must determine that a repeat prescription is clinically appropriate without the need for an in-person or virtual consultation.

• Additional charges for an assessment by the willing clinician may apply

• Additional charges for repeat prescriptions may apply

• Prescriptions with a very limited supply of medications may be given

4. Prescription Request Process

• Requests must be made via the clinic’s approved methods (e.g., email, phone or website enquiry).

• Please allow 3–5 business days for processing. Urgent requests may incur an additional fee and are not guaranteed.

• The clinic reserves the right to decline any repeat request if a follow-up consultation is deemed necessary or if any of the eligibility criteria outlined in section 2 or 3 are not met.

5. Prescription Fees

• Fees applies for all repeat prescriptions. Current prices can be found at https://www.christchurchpsychmed.co.nz/helpful-info.

• Repeat prescriptions will not be issued if a patient has any outstanding fees.

• Fees are non-refundable once the prescription has been issued.

7. Medication Safety and Monitoring

• It is your responsibility to ensure medication is taken as prescribed.

• Regular reviews (typically every 3–6 months) are required. Failure to attend scheduled reviews will result in the suspension of repeat prescriptions.

8. Lost or Stolen Prescriptions

• Patients must be responsible for the safekeeping of their prescriptions and medications. Replacement prescriptions for lost or stolen prescriptions for stimulant medication will not be provided.

• Requests for replacement of lost or stolen prescriptions for other medications may incur an additional fee.

• The clinic may refuse to reissue certain prescriptions without further assessment.

9. Pharmacy Dispensing

• Prescriptions can be sent to your nominated pharmacy. It is your responsibility to provide accurate and up-to-date details.

• Patients must be responsible for the timely fulfilment of their prescriptions at their preferred pharmacies.

10. Patient Responsibilities

By requesting a repeat prescription, you agree to:

• Inform the clinic of any changes in your health, medication side effects, or concerns.

• Attend scheduled follow-up appointments.

• Use the medication only as prescribed and not share it with others.

11. Clinic and Clinician Rights and Discretion

• The clinic or individual clinician reserves the right to amend these terms at any time.

• Prescriptions are issued at the discretion of your treating psychiatrist, who may decline to provide repeats based on clinical judgement, legal requirements, or ethical considerations.

10. Complaints and Concerns

If you have concerns or complaints about your prescription or the service received, please contact the clinic directly. You may also lodge a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner (www.hdc.org.nz) if necessary.

By requesting a repeat prescription, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the above terms.

This varies for each person depending on individual situations. During your initial appointment a treatment plan will be discussed and this could include an estimate of how many sessions may be required and how often you may need to attend.

As we are not an emergency service your first point of contact should be your local Crisis Resolution Team who provide 24 hour emergency and after hours psychiatric care.

Please call Crisis Resolution on 0800 920 092 if you are in the Canterbury area.

If you are outside of Canterbury go to the following website to find the phone number of your local Crisis Service - https://info.health.nz/mental-health/crisis-assessment-teams.

For non-urgent afterhours support, we suggest you contact the 1737 helpline.

Other support information can be found here https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/in-crisis/helplines/

Appointments that are unattended or cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged for. This fee is generally the cost of the appointment.

All fees listed are indicative only. Fees may vary according to individual need. All fees include GST.

Payment is due at the time of your appointment, unless a prior arrangement has been made. A $20.00 administration fee may be added to accounts not paid at the time of consultation.

Psychiatry

General

Initial Assessment up to 90 minutes $750

Initial Assessment up to 120 minutes $1000

up to 90 minute follow up $750

up to 60 Minute follow up $460

up to 30 Minute follow up $230

ADHD assessments (please refer to our ADHD Helpful Information pages for more explanation)

Initial Assessment up to 90 minutes (without comprehensive psychologist report) $1100

Initial Assessment up to 120 minutes (without comprehensive psychologist report) $1300

Initial Assessment up to 90 minutes (with comprehensive psychologist report) $750-$900

Initial Assessment up to 120 minutes (with comprehensive psychologist report) $1000

ADHD Follow up appointments as above for general psychiatry

Specialty Assessments and Reports - Please contact us for a price estimate.

Prescriptions – out of consultation time $55

Medical Certificates – out of consultation time $55

Renewal of Special Authority – out of consultation time $55

All our psychiatrists are Easy Claim providers with Southern Cross. If you are a Southern Cross member we are able to apply for funding on your behalf prior to your appointment once we have your membership number.

Psychology

Initial 90 minute consultation $355

Standard 50 minute consultation $235

Unless otherwise agreed, payment is due at time of your appointment.

Payments are accepted in the form of EftPos, credit card (excluding Amex) or cash. On-line payments are possible with prior arrangement.

Where it is agreed that payment need not be made at the time of your appointment, an administration fee of $20 may be added.

Please note Christchurch PsychMed may withhold further provision of services where there is an outstanding amount due.

Overdue accounts may incur an additional fee. Unpaid accounts will be passed to our debt collection agency and you will be liable for any collection fees incurred.

Our reception area is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. If you have an appointment outside of these hours you may find that the door to our reception area is locked when you arrive for your appointment. If this happens please knock on the reception door and either wait outside or in your car and your clinician will come out and greet you.

Parking is available on site at the rear of our building.

Christchurch PsychMed Privacy and Managing Health Information Policy

Current as of 24/09/23

Introduction

This privacy policy is to provide information to you, our patient/client, on how your personal information (which includes your health information) is collected and used within our practice, and the circumstances in which we may share it with third parties.

Christchurch PsychMed, as a service company that provides room rental and administration and reception services to mental health clinicians operating as independent Private Practitioners, collects relevant information to allow the clinicians within this practice to provide the best care for you. Each clinician within Christchurch PsychMed operates as an independent private practitioner who adheres to the Christchurch PsychMed Privacy Policy and Procedures. Health information that is collected by your clinician may be securely stored within Christchurch PsychMed’s electronic practice management system or as hardcopy information by your clinician. In addition, each practitioner has their own privacy policy that outlines how they maintain the privacy of the information they collect about individual patients/clients.

Why and when your consent is necessary?

When you register as a patient/client of Christchurch PsychMed, you provide consent for our clinicians and practice staff to access and use your personal information so they can provide you with the best possible healthcare. Only staff who need to see your personal information will have access to it. If we need to use your information for anything else, we will seek additional consent from you to do this.

Why do we collect, use, hold and share your personal information?

Our practice will need to collect your personal information to provide healthcare services to you. Our main purpose for collecting, using, holding and sharing your personal information is to manage your welbeing. We use demographic information for directly related business activities such as booking appointments financial claims and payments, and business processes (e.g. staff training).

What personal information do we collect?

The information we will collect about you includes your:

· names, date of birth, addresses, contact details

· medical information including medical history and medications

· NHI number when necessary

· health insurance details when necessary.

How do we collect your personal information?

Our practice may collect your personal information in several different ways.

1. When we receive a referral from your GP or another health professional requesting for you to be seen by a clinician at this practice we collect your personal and demographic information contained in this referral.

2. When you make your first appointment our practice staff will collect your personal and demographic information through the registration process.

3. We may also collect your personal information when you visit our website, send us an email, SMS, or telephone us.

4. Any email correspondence that you send to us, or that others send to us about you, will also be held electronically within our patient management system.

5. In some circumstances personal information may also be collected from other sources. Often this is because it is not practical or reasonable to collect it from you directly. This may include information from:

· your guardian or responsible person

· your health insurer, insurance company, or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (as necessary).

When, why and with whom do we share your personal information?

We sometimes share your personal information:

· when it is required or authorised by law (e.g. court subpoenas)

· when it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety, or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent

· to assist in locating a missing person

· to establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim

· for the purpose of confidential dispute resolution process

Only people who need to access your information will be able to do so. Our practice will not share personal information with any third party without your consent.

We will not share your personal information with anyone outside New Zealand (unless under exceptional circumstances that are permitted by law) without your consent.

Our practice will not use your personal information for marketing any of our goods or services directly to you without your express consent. If you do consent, you may opt out of direct marketing at any time by notifying our practice in writing.

How do we store and protect your personal information?

Your personal information may be stored at our practice in various forms such as paper records and electronic records within our patient management system.

Our practice stores all personal information securely. Electronic data is stored within password protected and encrypted information technology systems and hard copy documentation is stored within a secured environment including secure filing cabinets. Hard copy files are destroyed using secure destruction methods.

How can you access and correct your personal information at our practice?

You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.

Our practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. We require you to put this request in writing and our practice will respond within 10 working days.

Our practice will take reasonable steps to correct your personal information where the information is not accurate or up to date. From time to time, we will ask you to verify that your personal information held by our practice is correct and current. You may also request that we correct or update your information, and you should make such requests in writing to info@christchurchpsychmed.co.nz

How can you lodge a privacy-related complaint, and how will the complaint be handled at our practice?

We take complaints and concerns regarding privacy seriously. You should express any privacy concerns you may have in writing. A complaints form is available from reception. You can access this by emailing info@christchurchpsychmed.co.nz and requesting a complaint form. Your complaint will be managed in accordance with Right 10 of the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.

Complaints should be emailed to office@christchurchpsychmed.co.nz or addressed to:

Practice Manager,

Christchurch PsychMed,

169 Innes Road,

St Albans,

Christchurch 8052.

Phone. 033561150

Initial receipt of the complaint will be notified via email within 5 working days of receiving the complaint. Please note that all clinicians working at Christchurch PsychMed are independent Private Practitioners. As such, Christchurch PsychMed cannot act on behalf of and is not responsible for the actions of any clinician. We will endeavor, however, to work with you and the clinician concerned to reach a prompt resolution to your issue. If your complaint is about the reception staff then this complaint will be managed by Christchurch PsychMed.

If you are not satisfied with how we have dealt with the complaint, you may contact the Privacy Commissioner at:

Privacy Commissioner Level 13, WHK Tower 51-53 Shortland Street Auckland 1140 New Zealand

Telephone 0800 803 909

Email enquiries@privacy.org.nz

Privacy and our website

User-Provided Information:

You provide us certain information about yourself, such as your name, email address, and other personally identifiable information (all referred to as “Personal Information”) if you fill in any of the forms available on our website. If you correspond with us by email, we may retain the content of your email messages, your email addresses and our responses.

Information Collected Through Cookies and Other Technologies:

Cookies are small text files that are downloaded by your computer when you access and use our website. Cookies might be used to analyse user activity in order to improve the Service and Website. Cookies uniquely identify your computer and provide us with your user activity. This activity includes information such as the pages of the Website that you visit, the time and date of the visit, how much time is spent on those pages and other statistics.

Policy review statement

This Privacy Statement was last updated in September 2023 and is subject to ongoing review. You may also obtain a copy of this statement by emailing us at info@christchurchpsychmed.co.nz