Free sore throat checks | Te Awakairangi Health

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 729 High Street, Lower Hutt	Monday to Friday \| 6.00pm to 11.00pm Saturday and Sunday \|8.00am to 11.00pm
Epuni Medical Centre 102 Oxford Terrace, Lower Hutt	Monday to Friday \| 8.30am to 5.00 pm (appointment necessary)
Hutt City Health Centre 5 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt	Monday to Thursday \| 8.00am to 7.00pm Friday \| 8.00am to 6.00pm (appointment necessary)
Hutt City Wainuiomata 5 Fitzherbert Road, Wainuiomata	Monday to Friday \| 8.00am to 5.30pm (appointment necessary)
Naenae Medical Centre 39 Treadwell Street, Naenae	Monday to Friday \| 8.30am to 5.00pm (appointment necessary)
Taita Medical Centre 1205 High Street, Lower Hutt	Monday to Friday \| 8.30am to 5.00pm (appointment necessary)
Stokes Valley Medical Centre 180 Stokes Valley Road, Stokes Valley	Monday to Friday \| 9.00am to 5.30pm (appointment necessary)
Whai Oranga Health Centre 7 The Strand, Wainuiomata	Monday to Friday \| 8.30am to 5.00pm