Primary Health Care

After Hours Primary Health Care Services

A review of after hours primary health care services was completed in 2005. The After Hours Primary Health Care Working Party was established to develop and recommend a national policy framework as it relates to after hours primary health care that:

• Provides clarity to practitioners, PHOs, DHBs and the Ministry of Health about their respective responsibilities for the provision of after hours primary health care; and
• Creates an environment that promotes locally developed solutions to the provision of services over night.

The Working Party published a report in July 2005 with 15 recommendations aimed at ensuring accessible and effective after hours primary health care services and strengthening their resilience to meet people’s urgent need for care.

Working Party report: Towards Accessible, Effective and Resilient After Hours Primary Health Care Services

The Working Party’s report was released to the sector for comment in October 2005. The Ministry received a total of 24 submissions on the report.

Of these:

• 8 were from District Health Boards (DHBs)
• 1 from a DHB Emergency Department
• 4 from PHOs, 2 from national committees
• 2 from rural organisations
• 6 from professional organisations and
• 1 from an individual
  

Summary of Submissions to the Working Party’s report.

Response to Recommendations to the Working Party from DHBs, PHOs, the Ministry of Health and ACC.

Page last updated: January 2007