If you have COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms and urgently need our care, we have plans to keep you, and others safe. It is important you get the care you need.
For most people, symptoms of COVID-19 will be mild and can be managed at home.
You can find health advice to help manage your illness on the COVID-19 Health Hub().
If your symptoms get worse or you need urgent medical care, contact your local healthcare provider or call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Healthline
Call Healthline 0800 611 116 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for free health advice from a registered nurse if you’re:
feeling unwell – but not sure whether you need to see a doctor
needing some urgent advice about a family member or friend who’s sick.
Pharmacy
Pharmacists can provide advice and treatment for common conditions including:
coughs and colds
diarrhoea
headaches
other minor ailments
Find a pharmacist near you by visiting Healthpoint.
Mental health crisis helpline
Call 0800 800 717 for 24 hours a day / 7 days a week help if you are dealing with a mental health crisis. Or, you can call 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor from anywhere in New Zealand.
Labour and Birthing
People who may be in labour, or would like advice, can call our National Women’s Health Labour and Birthing suite 09 307 2888, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Call 111 in an emergency situation, if you are concerned about yourself or your baby.
Family doctor
See your family doctor for all non-urgent, less serious, health concerns including:
stubborn coughs and colds
pain management
long term illnesses.
If necessary, your family doctor can refer you to a specialist for further assessment or treatment.
If you don’t have a family doctor (also known as a GP) ask friends or neighbours if they can recommend one. You can also find one on Healthpoint().
Urgent care
If your family doctor is not available your local Urgent Care Clinic (Accident and Medical), or after-hours clinic can provide urgent care for illnesses and injuries including:
minor illnesses
eye injuries
sports injuries
mild asthma.
You don’t need to make an appointment to be seen. Some are open 24/7 and provide free or low-cost care for:
For serious injury and health concerns, go to a hospital Emergency Department or call 111.
Ambulance, police and fire 111. 111 calls are free. You can call this number on a mobile phone even if the phone is out of credit. The operator will ask you which service you need and connect you to the right service.
If you, or a person you are caring for, develops difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, fainting or becomes unconscious, call 111 immediately.
During busy times people who arrive at our Emergency Department with non-urgent injuries may experience a long wait. Please be patient and understand that we take your care seriously, but we must treat people with urgent illnesses first.
Your family doctor plays an important role in keeping your family healthy. Usually they're the first place you should go for non-urgent health concerns including stubborn coughs, colds, and pain management. They also provide treatment for long-term conditions and illnesses. You can call them for health advice and to make an appointment to be seen.
If you can’t get in touch with your doctor or aren’t sure where to go contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free health advice. If English isn’t your first language there are interpreters who can help.
The Hospital Emergency Department is for life-threatening conditions. If it’s an emergency, don’t hesitate - call 111 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Healthline is here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Healthline nurses are specialists in assessing and advising over the phone.
Phone calls are free from within New Zealand – this includes calls from a mobile phone.
If your child is unwell, it's always best to seek medical attention sooner, rather than later. Don't wait to see if their condition gets worse. If you are not sure whether to take them to hospital you can visit your GP or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 to speak with a nurse. In an emergency always call 111.
To seek immediate health advice, contact your family doctor or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 to speak to an experienced nurse, 24/7. They can assess you over the phone and advise you on what to do. If English isn’t your first language, there are interpreters who can help.
If you need urgent care for minor illnesses and injuries but your doctor’s office is closed you can visit your nearest Accident and Medical (A&M) clinic. No appointment is necessary.
To learn more about the fees charged by a particular clinic, visit their page on Healthpoint.
You can also contact Healthline on 0800611 116 for free advice.
Doctors’ practices and medical centres are privately owned and set their own fees. The cost of a visit will be lower if you’re enrolled with the GP, because the government subsidises the fee. Some general practices join a ‘low cost access’ programme run by their primary health organisation. This means they get extra government funding to keep their fees at low levels.
There is generally a reduced rate for anyone under 18 or over 65. Some things like immunisations for children are free, and children under 13 are eligible for free general practice visits (both during the day and after-hours).
To learn more about the fees charged by a particular practice, search for that practice on Healthpoint.
To learn more about enrolling with a GP and government programmes and services that may be available to you, visit the Ministry of Health.
A&M clinic
After-hours care usually costs more. You may be able to enrol with some accident and medical, or after-hours clinics. The cost of a visit will be lower if you’re enrolled. To be sure, always check with the clinic.
To learn more about the fees charged by a particular A&M clinic, visit their page on Healthpoint.
If you need urgent hospital-based care, you will still receive the treatment you need, and the same high level of care from our clinicians.
However, if you arrive at our ED with less critical illnesses or injuries you are likely to experience a long wait. Please be patient and understand that we take your care seriously, but must treat people with urgent illnesses first. We will also be discharging patients as soon as they are well enough to go home, in order to free up hospital bed space.
We’re taking these steps to ensure our specialised hospital services are available to you, your friends, whanau and community when you have a serious illness or injury.
To find out if you are eligible for publicly funded health and disability services, the eligibility criteria and what you need to prove your eligibility, visit the Ministry of Health.
