To help prevent rheumatic fever, free Sore Throat clinics are available at several Hutt Valley General Practices and Pharmacies.
About Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatic fever starts with a sore throat that is known as ‘strep throat’ – a throat infection caused by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus.
Rheumatic fever is a serious but preventable illness. It mainly affects Māori and Pacific children and young people aged 4 to 19, especially if they have other family members who have had rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever starts with a sore throat called a strep throat– a throat infection caused by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus.
Most strep throats get better and don’t lead to rheumatic fever. However, in a small number of people, an untreated strep throat develops into rheumatic fever, where their heart, joints (elbows and knees), brain and skin become inflamed and swollen.
Who can get a free sore throat check?
These free services are available to people at High Risk of developing rheumatic fever. This High-Risk group are:
- Māori and Pacific children, youth and young adults, aged 4 to 19 years who normally live the Hutt Valley and are enrolled in a general practice in the Hutt Valley
- Anyone else aged 4 to 19 years with a family history of rheumatic fever who is living in the Hutt Valley
- Low socioeconomic areas of the Hutt Valley or are living in crowded circumstances
You can go to your normal doctor or nurse to get a sore throat checked but you may have to pay a fee. You should phone your usual doctor and check.
What does the service provide?
A nurse or pharmacist will check your child’s sore throat, take their temperature and note other symptoms like a cough or runny nose.
Your child will be offered antibiotic treatment if their symptoms indicate a strep throat infection rather than a cold. Children/young adults with a sore throat caused by a cold usually have a cough, hoarseness, red eyes, and runny nose (usually not seen with strep throat). For this reason these children/young adults will not be offered antibiotic treatment.
Where are the free sore throat clinics?
Location General Practice | Service Available |
After Hours Medical Centre | Monday to Friday | 6.00pm to 11.00pm Saturday and Sunday |8.00am to 11.00pm |
Epuni Medical Centre | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00 pm (appointment necessary) |
Hutt City Health Centre | Monday to Thursday | 8.00am to 7.00pm Friday | 8.00am to 6.00pm (appointment necessary) |
Hutt City Wainuiomata | Monday to Friday | 8.00am to 5.30pm (appointment necessary) |
Naenae Medical Centre | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm (appointment necessary) |
Taita Medical Centre | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm (appointment necessary) |
Stokes Valley Medical Centre | Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm (appointment necessary) |
Whai Oranga Health Centre | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm |
Location Pharmacy | Service Available |
Clive’s Chemist | Monday to Thursday |9.00am to 5.30pm Friday | 9.00am to 6.00pm Saturday | 9.00am to 2.00pm |
Hutt City Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 6.00pm |
Ian Schofer Unichem | Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday I 9.30am to 4.00pm |
Lagan’s Unichem Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 8.45am to 6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm |
Len Hooper Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm |
Moera Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm |
Naenae Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 8.30 am to 6.00pm Saturday | 9.00am to 1.00pm |
Queen Street Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 9.00pm |
Silverstream Pharmacy | Monday to Wednesday I 8.30am to 7.00pm
Thursday to Friday I 8.30am to 6.00pm Saturday I 9.00am to 7.00pm |
Taita Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.30pm Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm |
Unichem Maidstone Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 8.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 4.00pm |
Unichem Owles Pharmacy | Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 6.00pm Saturday |9.00am to 1.00pm |
Unichem Upper Hutt Health Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 5.00pm |
Unichem Upper Hutt Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 8.30am to 6.30pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 5.00pm |
Wainuiomata Pharmacy | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday | 8.30am to 5.30pm Wednesday | 8.30am to 6.30pm Saturday | 9.00am to 4.00pm Sunday | 10.00am to 4.00pm |
Woburn Pharmacy | Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday I 9.30am to 12.00pm |
For more information about the service contact:
Clinical Services Co-ordinator
Phone:04 5665320
Email:info@teahn.org.nz
For more information about Rheumatic Fever:
Go to the Ministry of Health website Rheumatic Fever