Occupational Therapy in NZ

[charmander]

Hello,

We moved to NZ (Northland) 3 weeks ago and are settling in.

Today I heard that my son has moved to the top of the waiting list for an Occupational Therapy Assessment at our old hospital in the UK. (My dad has phoned and told them we don't need it, so no appts wasted for others).

If I want to get him to see an OT in NZ do I do it myself or does a doctor need to do it? In the UK his physio referred him but he has enough exercises to last him a year so does not see to see one of those (would have been signed off if he was back in UK).

Hi Charmander. Hope your move is going well.

I don't have experience with OTs but we have accessed Speech Therapists and the like which have been through a combo of GPs and Kindy/School referral. But I understand you can refer yourself too for some things.

Obviously you can go private if you have the cash.

I guess it depends on what you're after. I would start with Doctor if I was you.

Thanks, I will see the doctor I think and maybe get DH to talk to someone at school (he will be teaching at same school as ds1).

I have emailed a couple of OT but they are private and I'd rather not pay if i don't have to - still waiting for references confirming dates of jobs i have done so not even sure how much i will be getting paid!

I am kicking myself, I should have seen a doc about it already but have forgotten about it is the excitement of getting organised over the last month. I am starting work (teaching) tomorrow so need to get my act together!

Thank you again Shells

Good luck. Its a minefield trying to navigate a new system isn't it.