23962 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

23962 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What contingency planning, if any, exists to handle increased acute and emergency demand from Queenstown and surrounding areas at Southland Hospital?

Hon Simeon Brown: As the Member will be aware, Southland Hospital's catchment area includes Invercargill, Queenstown and the surrounding Southland District. As such, there is no specific contingency planning for any specific region within this catchment. However, Health New Zealand does have processes in place to deliver on our Government's focus on putting patients first and ensuring that all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare.