Matt Fistonich shares his experience of using Tend for GP appointments and prescriptions, exploring how the app simplifies healthcare access with a seamless, user-friendly experience tailored to modern life.
I’ve tried a lot of things in my life. New cafes, new bars, new men. But actually getting healthcare sorted? That always sat somewhere between “urgent” and “why is this so hard?” Until I tried Tend.
I first heard about Tend through a friend who raved about how simple it was. I’ll be honest, I was sceptical. I’ve spent years navigating phone menus, scrolling through clinic websites looking for appointment forms, and feeling overwhelmed just trying to book in for the basics. But Tend? It wipes all that anxiety out before you even open the app.
Zero stress, start to finish
Downloading the Tend app felt like any other app install. The moment you open it, you’re greeted with something that makes healthcare feel manageable. And it genuinely is.
I signed up using just a few details. No multi-page forms. No clunky login process. Just a sensible, intuitive flow that made me feel like I was making real progress and taking control of my health.
Booking a GP appointment was easy
When I needed to see a GP, I tapped a couple of buttons in the app. Within seconds, I could see available appointments, down to exact time slots. There were options for video consults or in-person visits, which meant I could pick what worked for me that day. Tend appointments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you’re enrolled with Tend, you also benefit from lower consultation fees.
I chose a same-day appointment with a real GP. The confirmation came through instantly, and the app reminded me before the consult. It felt like scheduling brunch with a friend, not something I’d been procrastinating about for weeks. My last GP had a wait time of nearly three weeks for an appointment.
Getting medications sorted quickly and simply
After the appointment, my prescription was sent straight through the app. You can select a preferred pharmacy as your “home” pharmacy, but you can have your prescription sent to any pharmacy in Aotearoa. No awkward calls. No waiting at reception. The whole thing was seamless, the kind of process that makes you wonder why health systems everywhere aren’t this straightforward.
Within hours, I had my medication sorted. Easily online, without the usual faff.
Why it worked for me
For queer people, especially those of us juggling work, community commitments and mental load, having something this simple makes a huge difference. It shouldn’t feel like moving mountains to look after your health, and with Tend, it doesn’t.
Clinic visits can be stressful, especially if you’re nervous about how you’ll be received or if you’re juggling dysphoria, anxiety or tiredness. Tend cuts through the noise, the forms and the waiting on hold, and leaves you with what you actually needed in the first place, care.
Beyond GP appointments, Tend offers free 30-minute mental health video consults to anyone aged 16 and over. Free. No referral needed. No long waitlist. I could even see someone today. Just book it through the app and have a chat with a trained mental health clinician if you’re feeling stressed or anxious.
Why it could work for you
If you’ve ever put off booking a GP appointment because the process felt too hard or you hate waiting on hold, Tend might just change that. It certainly changed how I think about accessing care, quick, respectful and genuinely user-friendly.
It’s healthcare that finally feels designed for people, not paperwork. Switching to Tend is simple, and you don’t have to “break up” with your current GP. They handle the transfer for you. Just download the app, create an account and tap “Enrol now” on the home page. Follow the prompts, have your ID ready, and you can be enrolled in just a few minutes.
Download the Tend app or visit tend.nz
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