Eastern Bay Set for Major Upgrade in After-Hours Health Services

Access to urgent and after-hours healthcare services in the Eastern Bay is set to improve as part of Budget 2025.

“Budget 2025 invests $164 million over four years to expand urgent and after-hours services nationwide,” said East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick. “That includes an extended after-hours service in Gisborne, with new weekday availability, and a further expanded service for Whakatāne – making care more accessible for families across the region.”

It has been confirmed that both new and extended services will be delivered across Gisborne, Whakatāne, and several remote communities in the Eastern Bay.

“Additional support is also on the way for some of our more isolated communities,” Kirkpatrick added. “Kawerau, Murupara, Ōpōtiki, Ruatōria, Te Kaha, Te Karaka, and Te Puia Springs are all identified in the nationwide rollout of improved rural and remote urgent care services.”

These services will include 24/7 on-call and in-person clinical support, along with improved access to urgent medicines, diagnostics, and testing.

“These are the sorts of practical investments that will make a real difference across the East Coast – helping ease pressure on hospitals, reduce wait times, and ensure access to timely, quality healthcare for our rural towns, remote communities, and regional centres.”

The improvements will roll out over the next two years, alongside additional support for existing clinics, with a focus on creating a more sustainable approach to urgent care delivery in hard-to-reach areas.

“This is a major step toward a healthcare system that works for everyone – ensuring all New Zealanders, including those on the East Coast, have access to timely, quality urgent care, no matter where they live,” said Kirkpatrick.