The government has decided to make it easier for folks in the regions to access urgent and after-hours healthcare, with plans to set up new 24-hour services all over the country. A chunk of $164 million will be invested over the next four years, with Counties Manukau, Whangārei, Palmerston North, Tauranga, and Dunedin lined up for these round-the-clock urgent care clinics. Not stopping there, the funding will also extend daytime services in other areas like Lower Hutt, Invercargill, and Timaru, ensuring more people have access to healthcare when they need it.
Health Minister Simeon Brown revealed the details in a pre-Budget announcement, emphasizing that the goal is to have 98 percent of New Zealanders within an hour’s drive of urgent care facilities. Brown highlighted the importance of bolstering urgent and after-hours care as part of the government’s broader healthcare strategy. The plan is to expand services nationwide, making it easier for Kiwis to get the care they require promptly, wherever they may be. With around 5000 people visiting urgent care clinics daily, the need for accessible services is evident, especially as after-hours care availability has been on the decline in recent years.
By investing in urgent and after-hours healthcare, the government aims to relieve pressure on emergency departments, improve patient outcomes, and offer more choices for individuals, particularly in rural and remote areas. By expanding community-based urgent care, the government hopes to alleviate strain on hospitals and reduce wait times in emergency departments for those with critical conditions. This move is seen as a significant step towards ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to quality healthcare when they need it the most, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for everyone.