For patients
Patient Information & Referrals
Guiding you through referrals, ACC claims, and private health insurance for your orthopaedic care in Whanganui.
Referrals & Appointments
A referral is required — no self-referrals
All patients must be referred by a registered health practitioner. Self-referrals cannot be accepted. Your General Practitioner, physiotherapist working with a GP, sports doctor, emergency department or another specialist can refer you. A referral gives Mr. Chechik your full medical context and relevant imaging, and it is usually required by ACC and by private insurers before they will consider funding.
How to Refer (For Doctors)
GPs and medical practitioners can send referrals securely via HealthLink, Specialist Referrals (SR) and secure email. Please include a brief clinical history, current medications, imaging reports, and the ACC claim number and date of injury where relevant.
ACC Cover — What It Really Means
Accident Compensation Corporation
Accident & Injury Care
If your shoulder or knee problem is the result of an accident or injury in New Zealand, your consultation and treatment may be covered by ACC. Cover is not automatic — a claim has to be lodged by a health practitioner, and ACC then decides what it will and will not pay for.
Receiving a claim is not the same as accepting it
When your GP lodges a claim, ACC first receives it and gives you a claim number. Receiving a claim simply means the paperwork has arrived. ACC then decides whether to accept the claim — that is, whether it agrees your diagnosis was caused by that specific accident. You will usually get a letter confirming the accepted claim and the exact injury wording (for example 'shoulder sprain'). That wording matters: ACC funds only the injury it has accepted.
Acceptance is not the same as funding approval
Even with an accepted claim, each type of support is approved separately: imaging such as MRI or ultrasound, specialist consultations, physiotherapy, weekly compensation for lost income, and — most importantly — surgery. Surgery in particular requires a separate application from your surgeon, with clinical notes and scans, and ACC's own advisors review it before funding is granted. Approval can take a few weeks.
Claims placed on hold
A claim can be put on hold while ACC clarifies the correct diagnosis — for example if the injury description on the original claim does not match what the scan shows, or if more information is needed from your GP or from Mr. Chechik. During a hold, funding for investigations, treatment or weekly compensation may pause. This is common and usually resolved once an updated diagnosis and report are supplied.
When ACC declines surgical funding
ACC applies strict criteria to surgery. It funds injuries, not the natural wear of a joint. Conditions such as osteoarthritis of the shoulder or knee, degenerate rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder and long-standing degenerate meniscal tears are often declined on the basis that they are chronic, age-related, and cannot be attributed to a single specific accident — even when an accident made the symptoms noticeable. A decline is not a comment on how much pain you are in.
If your claim or surgery is declined
You can ask for a review of ACC's decision, and Mr. Chechik can supply further clinical information or an updated diagnosis where the evidence supports it. If ACC funding is not available, your treatment can still proceed through private health insurance, self-funding, or referral into the public system at Whanganui Hospital. These options are discussed openly with you in clinic.
What to bring
Please bring your ACC claim number, the date of injury, and any ACC letters you have received. If you do not have an active claim, your GP can lodge one before your visit.
Private Health Insurance
Insurance Coverage
Mr. Chechik welcomes patients with all major New Zealand private health insurance providers (e.g., Southern Cross, NIB, AIA, Accuro).
Prior Approval
We recommend contacting your insurer prior to your appointment or procedure to secure prior approval for consultations, imaging, or surgery.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
Bringing the right information helps Mr. Chechik assess your condition thoroughly and recommend the best course of care.
A copy of your GP referral letter (if not sent directly).
ACC claim details (if applicable).
Any relevant radiology scans or reports (X-rays, MRI, Ultrasound).
Details of your private health insurance policy.
A list of current medications and relevant medical history.
Doctors: Referrals can be sent via Specialst Referrals (SR), HealthLink and secure email. Please include relevant imaging and a brief clinical history so we can triage appropriately.
Ready to take the next step?
If you have questions about referrals, ACC, insurance, or what to expect at your appointment, the rooms are happy to help.
Contact / Enquiry