27030 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

27030 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What independent evaluation, if any, has been undertaken of whether the Primary Care funding boost, continued via a $95 million transfer, has improved access to general practice, and will the Minister release it?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that there has been no independent evaluation commissioned of the primary care funding boost. Both the Ministry of Health and Health NZ continue to monitor access to general practice as one of the key priorities in their plan to strengthen primary care. I am also advised that the proportion of practices with closed books is declining.