8833 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 18 Mar 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	8833 (2025)
Question asked:	04 Mar 2025
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Simeon Brown
Answer received:	12 Mar 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_08833_2025
Document guid:	fdbe03e2-53ea-43fb-bae7-e5e514b8e70d

8833 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Have any changes been made from on-site staffed coverage to an on-call system for pharmacy services at any of the public hospitals listed on the Ministry of Health website since 27 November 2023, and if so, what were those changes, listed by hospital, the date on which those changes took effect, and the impact on staffing?

Hon Simeon Brown: Our Government is focused on delivering timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders. I am advised that at Whangarei Hospital, on-site pharmacist hours on Saturdays were adjusted in early 2024 to prioritise the morning coverage between 8:00am - 11:00am, ensuring continued support for essential services. At Wairarapa Hospital, since December 2023, inter-district on-call pharmacy cover has been utilised as needed to strengthen its 24/7 pharmacy on-call roster, ensuring seamless patient care.