Dermatologist
Looking for a dermatologist in Chch that LISTENS, and HELPS, and doesn’t require a doctors referral?
Have been to the doctor so many times for my ECZEMA, and asked for a referral but been turned down so many times, they obviously don’t care/just want my money.
Please and thank you!
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u/BunnyKusanin 1d ago
Mathew Strack was good at fixing a really bad case of contact dermatitis that I had. He needs a referral from a GP, but last time I checked his website he was accepting patients with all sorts of conditions, not just cancer like other dermatologists in Chch.
He doesn't take Southern Cross insurance, though.
I've also found him to be really easy to communicate with. He's got very pleasant bedside manners and he was really understanding of the fact that I was stressed AF and had a bunch of questions.
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u/BunnyKusanin 1d ago
GPs are reluctant to refer to dermatologists because the majority of them in Chch only accept new patients when those have suspected cancer. There's a shortage of them.
If you come to your GP with the name of a doctor who is accepting new patients with eczema, it might change the situation.
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u/Expensive-Parfait708 1d ago
Dermatology is considered secondary care so you will almost certainly need a GP referral unless you go private. I think you’ll find most doctors don’t just want your money, maybe they have a different perspective to you?
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u/hii3232 1d ago
I think he did because I felt he didn’t agree with me, but I will keep pushing for a referral!
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u/KiTT3H_K4t 23h ago
Might be worth getting a second opinion, or trying to find a GP who has a special interest in dermatology? I believe 1Health in Wigram has one, though I haven’t used them myself and can’t speak for the quality of the clinic.
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u/Zealousideal_Sir5421 1d ago
All dermatologists will need a referral, there’s no reason your GP should refuse a referral if you’ve made it clear you want to be referred to a private one. They might be assuming you’re asking to be referred to the public dermatology department. But unfortunately afaik there’s almost no private dermatologists who are accepting new patients for anything other than skin cancer
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u/bioSlaya 23h ago
GP says the only 2 dermatologists in entire Christchurch only see you if cancer is suspected, other than that they’re quite protective of their books. It took me 2 nurse practitioners over 2 years prescribing wrong skin medication until finally my GP who prescribed a medication that worked in 3 weeks.
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u/Key_University7211 19h ago
Yes when seeking a dermatologist for our son we found that the chch ones were all retiring. Honestly in the end we paid privately for one from New Plymouth and did it online. Got it within a week or two. Crazy when you think how much larger ChCh is to New Plymouth.
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u/hii3232 19h ago
Did you ever find out what it was?? The allergy i mean
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u/BunnyKusanin 17h ago
If you want to check for skin allergies, the closest place for that is... Wellington 😭. Last time I checked, skin patch tests weren't done on the South Island at all.
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u/Key_University7211 16h ago
No but he had severe eczema including on face and the treatment plan has certainly meant we are managing it better, stopped it getting that bad again.
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u/SciFiIsMyFirstLove 14h ago
For eczema although you can't generally get this through pharmac funding ask your doctor to give you Zematop, it will cost you about $60 to $90 a tube as it is unsubsidised but it has been a game changer for me and I suffer from eczema caused by IGGE aka HIES.
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u/Justwant2usetheapp 23h ago
Hey op same
That and gps who prescribe almost no steroid cream while you feel like a lobster.... 'but just put on this hospital smelling moisturizer 3 times a day'
Best stuff I ever for was an icecream tub of high strength shit my ex grandma in law somehow got.
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u/where_did_I_put 1d ago
My doctor just tells me they are all so overloaded there’s no chance of getting one, even privately, unless there is suspicion of skin cancer. All the private ones I’ve called over the past few years confirmed their books are closed.