East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says funding will bring in-person urgent care closer to rural communities

The redevelopment of Gisborne Hospital is scheduled to go ahead between 2025 and 2034, while the Government is also aiming to increase the hours of urgent and after-hours care, East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says.

• East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says the Government will spend $164 million on after-hours medical care nationwide over four years.
• The funding aims to ensure 98% of people are within one hour’s drive of urgent care.
• Investment in a new rural hub and urban ambulatory hub is planned between 2025 and 2029.

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick says funding in the 2025 Budget would ensure rural communities like Ruatōria, Te Puia Springs and Te Karaka were within a one-hour drive of in-person urgent care.

The Government has promised $164 million over four years to expand urgent care and after-hours healthcare services nationwide.

“Strengthening urgent and after-hours healthcare is part of the Government’s plan to put patients first and ensure those in our most rural and isolated communities have access to healthcare when they need it,” Kirkpatrick told the Gisborne Herald.

She said the funding would ensure 98% of New Zealanders were within one hour’s drive of in-person urgent care, including Ruatōria, Te Puia Springs and Te Karaka.

“Health New Zealand would move quickly to begin discussions with the providers already in those areas to ensure services are in place, that they are supported to provide the services and that there is a clearer fee structure for everyone,” Kirkpatrick said.

Iwi health provider Ngāti Porou Oranga has been approached for comment.

Kirkpatrick said a more sustainable approach to providing rural urgent and after-hours care was needed.

“The current model, which often depends on rural GPs being on call 24/7, was unsustainable and placed significant strain on an already overstretched workforce.

“The investment will provide more sustainable funding and targeted support to help these clinicians continue delivering timely, quality healthcare in their communities.”

Kirkpatrick said the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan, released in April, included “some relief in sight for Tairāwhiti”.

A new rural hub for better diagnostics, ambulatory treatment, birthing, acute and sub-acute care and a new urban ambulatory hub operated by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora were planned between 2025 and 2029 in Tairāwhiti.

The Gisborne Hospital redevelopment was planned between 2030 and 2034, Kirkpatrick said.

“We know that this, on its own, won’t fix the challenges in the health system in their entirety – but it is one of the building blocks we have put in place.”