7502 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

7502 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What is the total full-time equivalent of clinicians delivering consultations through the online 24/7 GP service?

Hon Simeon Brown: The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics and build the future. With this initiative, our focus is on ensuring New Zealanders can access healthcare when they need it. Online GP Care is already supporting tens of thousands of people, and it is an important part of our plan to deliver a more accessible and responsive health system that puts patients at the centre. I am advised that the clinicians delivering the Online GP service are employed by eight private providers who make up the service's panel. They are not Health NZ employees, and therefore I am unable to advise on the number, employment status, or location of those clinicians.