- invercargill and Southland to receive new urgent and after-hours healthcare services expansion
- Rural areas including Stewart Island and Tuatapere will get 24/7 clinical support and urgent medicines
- Invercargill to get new daytime urgent care service available seven days each week
Access to urgent and after-hours healthcare is set to improve in Invercargill and Southland, thanks to a major national investment in Budget 2025.
Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds confirmed that the area will receive a new urgent care service to operate during the day, boosting availability throughout the week.
"A new daytime urgent care service has been identified for Invercargill, which will add to the existing after-hours service and expand access to urgent care seven days a week," she said.
The expansion won’t be limited to city centres. Rural and remote communities will also benefit, with Simmonds highlighting new services for Stewart Island and Tuatapere.
"Improved urgent and after-hours healthcare is also on the way for rural and remote communities, with services identified for Stewart Island and Tuatapere," she said.
"These services include 24/7 on-call, in-person clinical support, better access to tests and checks and urgent medicines."
In Gore, a broader after-hours service will be introduced, including weekend coverage. This will make it easier for people to get urgent treatment throughout the week.
"An extended after-hours service has also been identified for Gore, including new weekend services – expanding access to urgent care seven days a week."
In Dunedin, access is being further enhanced with a brand new 24-hour urgent care facility designed to ease hospital pressure.
"In Dunedin, a new 24-hour urgent care service has been identified to provide round-the-clock access, easing pressure on the city’s hospital. This means people will be able to get urgent care at any time, while our National-led Government continues to prioritise delivering the New Dunedin Hospital."
Simmonds said the Government is focused on delivering a better, more responsive health system for everyone in New Zealand.
"Strengthening urgent and after-hours care is central to our plan to ensure everyone can get the care they need, when they need it."
"This is a major step toward a healthcare system that works for everyone, ensuring all New Zealanders – including those in Southland – have access to timely, quality urgent care, no matter where they live."
"Budget 2025 invests $164 million over four years to expand urgent and after-hours services across the country – helping more people access care without long waits or travel."
"This National-led Government is investing more in health than ever before, with a record $16.68 billion across three Budgets to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders."