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?

Provider Address Hours
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
Clive’s Chemist 20-21 Queens Street

Wainuiomata

  Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm
Epuni Medical Centre 102 Oxford Terrace
Lower Hutt		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm
(appointment necessary)
Hutt City Health Centre (HCHC) 5 Raroa Road
Lower Hutt		  Monday to Thursday | 8.00am to 7.00pm
Friday | 8.00am to 6.00pm
(appointment necessary)
Hutt City Health Centre (Wainuiomata) 5 Fitzherbert Road
Wainuiomata		 Monday to Friday | 8.00am to 5.30pm
(appointment necessary)
Hutt Union Community Health Services (HUCHS) 51 Farmers Crescent

Pomare

 Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.00pm
Hutt Union Community Health Services (HUCHS) 451 Jackson Street

Petone

 Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm
Life Pharmacy Queensgate Queensgate
Lower Hutt		 Monday to Wednesday | 9.00am – 6.00pm
Thursday to Friday | 9.00am – 9.00
Saturday | 9.00am – 6.00pm
Moera Pharmacy 139 Randwick Road
Moera		 Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm
Naenae Medical Centre 39 Treadwell Street
Naenae		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm
(appointment necessary)
Naenae Pharmacy Limited 29 Hillary Court
Naenae		 Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm
Owles Unichem Pharmacy 5 Everest Avenue
Naenae		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 6.00pm
Saturday | 9.00am to 1.00pm
Stokes Valley Medical Centre (SVMC) 180 Stokes Valley Road
Stokes Valley		 Monday to Friday | 9.00am to 5.30pm
(appointment necessary)
Taita Medical Centre 1205 High Street
Lower Hutt		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm
(appointment necessary)
Taita Pharmacy 1206 High Street
Lower Hutt		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday | 9.30am to 12.30pm
Unichem Maidstone Pharmacy 53 Main Street
Upper Hutt		 Monday to Friday I 8.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 4.00pm
Unichem Petone Pharmacy 240 Jackson Street

Petone

 Monday to Wednesday | 8.30am to 5.30pm

Thursday to Friday | 8.30am to 6.00pm

Saturday I 9.00am to 3.00pm

Sunday I 9.30am to 5.00pm
Unichem Pharmacy UHHC Upper Hutt Health Centre
Upper Hutt		 Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 5.00pm
Unichem Upper Hutt Pharmacy 723 Fergusson Drive
Upper Hutt		 Monday to Friday I 8.30am to 6.30pm
Saturday and Sunday I 9.00am to 5.00pm
Wainuiomata Pharmacy 8 The Strand

Wainuiomata

 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
Whai Oranga O Te Iwi Health Centre 7 The Strand
Wainuiomata		 Monday to Friday | 8.30am to 5.00pm
Woburn Pharmacy 66 Whites Line East
Waiwhetu		 Monday to Friday I 9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday I 9.30am to 12.00pm

More information

For more information about the service contact:

Clinical Programmes Facilitator
Phone:04 5665320
Email: [email protected]


For more information about Rheumatic Fever:

Go to the Ministry of Health website Rheumatic Fever