19818 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

19818 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Will Te Whatu Ora be producing a 'Winter Preparedness Plan' for 2024?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised Health New Zealand are producing a System Pressures Plan which incorporates, and builds upon, initiatives that were part of last year's Winter Preparedness Plan. I am further advised that the System Pressures Plan is a compilation of specific initiatives, taking a system response over three broad categories: Prevention, Community Care, and Emergency Departments and Hospitals. It aims to provide patients with better experiences and outcomes while improving hospital flow. Health NZ will do this by providing timely, effective, and equitable acute and planned care across the whole system, with a particular focus on efforts at a community and family/whānau level in order to better manage demand for services.