Emergency Consult, a 24 hour telehealth service, is all set to provide 24/7 responsive care more accessible for all New Zealanders by participating in the Minister of Health’s new game-changing programme.
This initiative will significantly expand access to expert medical care – day or night, without any appointment, from anywhere in the country.
As part of this programme, Emergency Consult will offer its emergency medicine specialists at much-reduced fees to eligible New Zealanders, including children, youth, and Community Services Card holders. With funding from the Health Ministry, the service removes barriers to acute care, especially during after-hours or when your regular GP is unavailable.
Emergency Consult operates like a virtual urgent care clinic and there’s no need to enrol or book in advance. Patients simply log on and consult with a doctor in real time, 24/7. After the consultation, notes are securely shared with the patient’s usual GP, helping maintain continuity of care.
“It’s hugely comforting to be able to video chat with an emergency doctor, who’s used to treating priority cases in a hospital emergency department,” says Johnny Louie, CEO at Emergency Consult. “This initiative allows us to extend that expertise to all New Zealanders, at a fraction of the usual cost.”
Unlike many physical clinics, estimated wait time is just 15 minutes. The first person you’ll see on screen is an experienced triage nurse, who will collect a few pertinent details, then you’ll be transferred to a doctor.
According to Emergency Consult, patients connect with doctors that are ‘highly trained in emergency medicine’ and ‘vastly experienced in managing a wide range of acute, urgent, and episodic conditions- especially when you’re away from home, or when your regular GP can’t be reached.
