Waitaha Canterbury Refugee Health Service
The Canterbury Refugee Health Service in Ōtautahi Christchurch and Ashburton is dedicated to ensuring former refugees have access to essential healthcare services.
Key aspects of the service include:
- Connecting with health services: Assisting former refugees in finding a general practice, understanding their rights to funded h health care and providing information about eligibility for free healthcare services.
- Access to funded health services: For the first five years in New Zealand, Former refugees may receive funded visits to general practitioners (GPs), nurse practitioners and nurses, covering a wide range of health services including maternal care, dental care, mental health services, and more.
- Interpreter services: Funded and confidential professional interpreters are available for health appointments to assist those who do not speak English.
- Eligibility: Funded healthcare visits are available to quota refugees, family reunification refugees, community sponsorship refugees, convention refugees, and asylum seekers who have been in New Zealand for less than five years and have a valid Community Services Card.
- Support with documentation: The Refugee Health Service helps with the necessary documentation required to enrol with a general practice and access health services.
For more information or assistance, health professionals can refer their patients to the Refugee Health Service.
Call the Refugee Health Service on 0800 757 135 Send the Refugee Health Service an email Visit the Refugee Health Service page for patients for more information