430 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

430 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: How many times has the Napier Health Centre overnight urgent care service been closed, in whole or in part, since 1 November 2024, broken down by month with reason for each closure?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand started delivering the Napier Health Centre overnight service on 1 July 2025. I am further advised that as at 29 January 2026, the overnight service has been closed 15 times due to staffing issues. In 2025, I made it clear to Health New Zealand that a solution had to be found to maintain Napier Health Centre’s overnight service, ensuring residents continue to receive after-hours care for urgent needs close to home. Not only was the existing service retained, but the overnight service was enhanced to provide more comprehensive care, including access to nurse prescribers and overnight medical support from a doctor via telehealth. I am concerned that the service has not been appropriately staffed to the level required to ensure Napier residents can access this service consistently. I expect Health New Zealand to resolve this issue and have asked officials for advice on the actions being taken to ensure Napier residents have a reliable overnight service.