48943 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

48943 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What steps, if any, have been taken to secure the required workforce for the Counties Manukau 24/7 urgent care service?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that urgent care services in Counties Manukau are delivered by external organisations, each responsible for their own recruitment processes. As part of the current procurement process, and as part of our focus on putting patients first and ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare, Health New Zealand is actively assessing the workforce capacity of these providers to ensure they can deliver extended overnight hours while maintaining their existing operations. This includes reviewing their staffing plans and strategies to secure and sustain the required workforce for 24/7 service delivery.