Free healthcare for displaced Te Tai Tokerau – Northland residents

Te Whatu Ora will fully fund the cost of casual GP consultations for residents of Te Tai Tokerau – Northland who have been displaced by recent adverse weather.

Displaced residents (people from Te Tai Tokerau – Northland who have moved out of the district or elsewhere within the district will be eligible for free visits to general practice, after hours, accident and medical and urgent care clinics at a clinic or practice they are not enrolled at.

“Residents may have temporarily moved outside of their region and could be staying with whānau or friends elsewhere in the country,” says Abbe Anderson, National Director Commissioning. “We want to support these people with their health care as much as possible.

“Te Whatu Ora is funding free GP visits and prescriptions from now until 19 March 2023. We will closely monitor the situation and decide if an extension is required,” says Ms Anderson.

“Te Whatu Ora has also expanded access to free phone consultations through Healthline for those affected by the recent adverse weather. People can connect directly with a GP and may also be able to get new prescriptions if required through this service – call Healthline on 0800 611 116.”

Te Whatu Ora announced on Friday it would fund the cost of casual general practice, after hours, urgent care and accident and medical visits for residents of Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti who have been displaced in other parts of the country, due to Cyclone Gabrielle. General practice, after hours, urgent care and accident and medical visits are already fully funded for residents still in Hawke’s Bay.