From December 1, only one point of contact will be required for people living in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North as a new streamlined medical system is put in place.
The new urgent after-hours system will see GP care available in both Napier and Hastings from City Medical inNapier and Hastings Health Centre until 9pm.
After hours, people who need medical care should call their general practice clinic and their call will be diverted to a health professional who can assess their medical concerns.
If required the nurse has the ability to send a paramedic to people's homes.
A highly qualified nurse will be available 24/7 at City Medical, free to anyone who has an urgent medical issue they need to be checked.
The new home-care paramedic service will cost patients $65.
Although staffed by St John this is a Hawke's Bay District Health Board and Health Hawke's Bay-subsidised service working in partnership with St John Ambulance Service.
Health Hawke's Bay and Hawke's Bay District Health Board medical advisers have championed this project, as a better way for GPs to work so they are able to manage their day-time jobs without an on-call night roster that was unsustainable.
Napier GP David Rodgers said all GPs want to provide a top-notch service to patients during the day time when most people need them – "That's difficult to maintain if you have been up most of the night".
"This new service prioritises patient safety with more choice after hours. It's streamlined to prevent confusion and there is the back-up paramedic service if it's needed, to support after- hours care and to help keep people from using the Emergency Department when they can be treated elsewhere," Dr Rogers said.
St John National Patient Pathways Manager Kris Gagliardi said he was pleased to welcome the partnership with Health Hawke's Bay and the district health board to provide after-hours care to the Hawke's Bay community.
"Our paramedics have a passion for primary healthcare and are looking forward to working with the teams to provide this service," he said.
More information is available from www.ourhealthhb.nz and if it is an emergency, like chest pain, people should call 111.
