Winter Preparedness Actions

Te Whatu Ora and its team of teams is working around the clock to ensure every New Zealander
gets the care required over winter to support them, their whānau and communities to keep well.

At a glance
 Te Whatu Ora has a range of initiatives to address health system pressures for winter and
beyond, that will be regionally tailored for implementation in local communities.
 These actions are focused on a combination of improving access to health services for
people closer to where they live, as well as measures to help manage the demand for
hospital-level care over winter.
 There’s a focus on more convenient and equitable access to care in the community
including via clinical telehealth, pharmacy advice and care, and longer-term initiatives such
as ensuring more services are available - especially for Māori, Pacific, disabled people and
older people.
 The first line of defence against serious illness this winter is to ensure high rates of
immunisation across the country. We are encouraging people to get the flu vaccine and the
COVID-19 booster to ensure they have the best protection available.

The table below summarises our system pressures priority actions for Winter 2023 and beyond, by
theme. Some initiatives will be available nationally, while others will be available only in some
areas, for this winter. The table below shows how initiatives are being implemented in districts that
are consistently and persistently experiencing hospital flow challenges and wider system
pressures.

Start date / locations Action Objective Eligibility

Benefit for patients

Reducing and mitigating system pressures in primary and community

settings

June 23 Using telehealth Increase access to, and Rural, Māori and Pacific
to support reduce pressure on, GPs
Te Tai Tokerau
primary care primary care services in
Auckland Being able to seek
rural communities, Māori
Middlemore health advice over the
and Pacific general
Tauranga phone is convenient for
practices.
Mid Central people and may avoid
Wellington the need for a trip to the
Christchurch doctor or ED.
Invercargill
May 23 Clinical Reduce congestion at Low acuity patients
telehealth to EDs by supporting
Te Tai Tokerau By providing general
support ambulance staff to treat
Auckland practitioner or specialist
ambulance patients on scene.
Middlemore medical advice to
services and
Tauranga ambulance crews, and
paramedics
Mid Central guidance on alternatives
Christchurch to EDs. People who call
Invercargill 111 may receive care
from ambulance staff
Wellington Free
that avoids the need to
Ambulance have own
visit ED
arrangements

May 23 Remote patient Increase access to Patients in remote Māori

monitoring culturally appropriate communities
Te Tai Tokerau,
prototype care in the community for
People taking part in the
Tairawhiti and the remote Māori
prototype can expect
Chatham Islands communities.
proactive clinical review
in the community, in a
culturally appropriate
way, that may avoid the
need to acutely visit ED

June 23 Pharmacies to Reduce pressure on Māori, Pacific, under

treat minor primary and hospital 14s and their whānau +
Upper Hutt- to expand ailments services by increasing community service card
in Hutt Valley and access to care in the holders
community for minor
Waitemata as well as: Being able to access
ailments to priority
consultations with a
populations, children, and
Te Tai Tokerau pharmacist and
their families.
Auckland medicines for minor
Middlemore ailments from a
Tauranga pharmacist provides
Mid Central another option for care
Wellington that may be faster or
Christchurch more convenient than
Invercargill visiting a GP or ED.

2
June 23 Community Reduce pressure on EDs People who visit their
radiology by increasing access to GP can be referred
Te Tai Tokerau services radiology services in the directly to a community
Auckland community. radiology provider.
Middlemore
Tauranga
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

June 23 Comprehensive Reduce pressure on Being able to access

primary care hospital services by traditional primary care
Te Tai Tokerau
teams increasing access to care services (GPs and
Auckland
in the community. registered nurses) at the
Middlemore
same time as other
Tauranga
services (such as
Mid Central
physiotherapists,
Wellington
practice-based
Christchurch
pharmacists, and care
Invercargill
coordinators,) provides
people with more
convenient and holistic
care. This may avoid
the need to visit hospital
by preventing known
conditions from
deteriorating.

June 23 Primary Options Reduce pressure on People have increased

for Acute Care hospital services by access to services like
Te Tai Tokerau
increasing access to care intravenous treatment in
Auckland
in the community. their home or the
Middlemore
community, which may
Tauranga
avoid the need for them
Mid Central
to visit hospital.
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

3
May 23 More accessible Reduce congestion at Improved access to
after hours and EDs, especially among urgent care, particularly
Te Tai Tokerau
medical care priority populations, by among priority
Auckland
improving access to after populations and during
Middlemore
hours and Urgent care. afterhours.
Tauranga
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

Preventing hospital admission and ensuring timely discharge

In place Initiatives to Increase Aged Provision of more virtual

support Aged Residential Care capacity medical advice and
Te Tai Tokerau
Residential to care for unwell specialist nursing
Auckland
Care residents and support support (e.g. Wound
Middlemore
ARC. CNS ) to provide timely
Tauranga
assessment and
Wellington
updated care plans in
the residents home

Ensure patients can be

June 23 Needs This initiative aims to
transferred from the
assessments provide older people
Te Tai Tokerau hospital safely and as
occur needing needs
Auckland quickly as possible. This
appropriately assessment with more
Middlemore will include:
and do not timely needs
Tauranga
delay patients assessment, closer to
Mid Central Expedite needs
(or in) their home
Wellington assessment to determine
environment, and less
Christchurch long term care
time spent in hospital.
Invercargill
Early supported
discharge programs (in
some districts).

4
June 23 Community Prioritise those most in Improved access to
Allied Health need of care. community allied health
Te Tai Tokerau
Rapid and rapid response
Auckland Allied and other health
Response services is more
Middlemore workforce will support
Services convenient for people,
Tauranga people with complex
can prevent them
Mid Central needs at home,
needing to be admitted
Wellington preventing hospital
to hospital, or reduce
Christchurch admission or facilitating
the time they need to
Invercargill early discharge.
spend in hospital.
Home support workers
are eligible for funded flu
vaccination to protect
their health, the health of
their clients and support
workforce capacity. They
are also eligible to be
paid for the time taken to
travel to and receive the
vaccination.

In place in some Hospital in the Prevent hospital Care provided in

districts and being Home admissions among patients’ homes enabled
expanded vulnerable groups, and by virtual monitoring
speed-up hospital and consultation, as
Te Tai Tokerau
discharge, by providing well as in-person visits,
Auckland
hospital services in the is more convenient for
Middlemore
home. people and can reduce
Tauranga
the risk of infection and
Mid Central
other complications that
Wellington
may occur with a long
Christchurch
hospital stay.
Invercargill

Reducing acute pressures by improving acute flow

In place Rapid National Reduce congestion, Healthcare leaders at

Data Automation improve flow, and regional and national
Te Tai Tokerau
Project improve hospital capacity level having access to
Auckland
by supporting directors more up to date detailed
Middlemore
and their teams to make hospital information
Tauranga
real-time decisions, helps manage
Mid Central
across regions. pressures and
Wellington
coordinate responses,
Christchurch
to improve the care
Invercargill
patients receive.

5
In place Regional and Reduce congestion, Improved partnership
National improve flow, and working and sharing of
Escalation improve hospital capacity resources between
Te Tai Tokerau
Pathways by diverting resources different parts of the
Auckland
and patients within and system will help improve
Middlemore
across regions to support access to treatment and
Tauranga
under-pressure facilities. care for patients.
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

In place Mental health Reduce visits to, and Better experience for
support to EDs stays in, EDs for people those people who visit
Te Tai Tokerau
with mental health needs. ED with mental health
Middlemore
needs, and a quicker
Tauranga
journey to the right care
setting.

Maintaining planned care under system pressure

May 23 Maintaining Maintain planned care Minimise delays for

planned care delivery as much as people waiting for
Te Tai Tokerau
capacity possible to reduce the planned care treatment,
Auckland
time patients wait for which may include
Middlemore
treatment. fewer short notice
Tauranga
cancellations.
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

Increasing immunisation to protect from severe illness and

hospitalisation
In place Bivalent COVID- Prevent serious illness Reduce likelihood of
19 boosters and hospitalisations from hospital admission for
Te Tai Tokerau
COVID-19, especially in patients who do become
Auckland
vulnerable populations. unwell with
Middlemore
complications of
Tauranga
COVID-19 and reduce
Mid Central
risk of spread to frail
Wellington
elderly patients.
Christchurch
Invercargill
In place Influenza Reduce pressure on Reduce likelihood of
vaccination primary, community, and hospital admission for
Te Tai Tokerau
campaign hospital services by patients who become
Auckland
preventing serious illness unwell with influenza
Middlemore
from influenza, especially and reduce risk of
Tauranga
in Māori and Pacific spread to frail elderly
Mid Central
communities, disabled patients.
Wellington
and older people.
Christchurch
Invercargill

6
In place Promote all Reduce pressure on Children being able to
childhood primary community, and access a range of
Te Tai Tokerau
immunisations hospital services by vaccinations at the
Auckland
at convenient preventing serious same time is more
Middlemore
locations respiratory and other convenient for them and
Tauranga
vaccine-preventable their parent or
Mid Central
illnesses in children. caregiver.
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

Addressing workforce pressures and supporting staff

In place International Reduce the impact that People are able to

nurse and other staffing pressures, such access timely and
Te Tai Tokerau
health as illness and vacancies, effective health care
Auckland
professional have on the system’s when they need it, from
Middlemore
recruitment ability to deliver care. fully staffed services.
Tauranga
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

In select regions will Earn and learn Reduce staffing People are able to
be expanded programmes for pressures associated access health services
health care with significant health staffed by a more
Auckland
assistants care assistant vacancies, diverse workforce,
Middlemore
which causes flow-on equipped to provide
Christchurch
pressures to nurses. effective care.

In place Health staff Reduce the impact of People are able to

influenza staff illness on the health access health services
Te Tai Tokerau
vaccinations system’s ability to deliver where staff are
Auckland
care. protected against
Middlemore
influenza.
Tauranga
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill

Reducing system pressure through communications and behaviour

change

7
 Underway Right Care Right Reduce pressure across People know how to
Time the whole health system access the right care, at
Communications by encouraging the right time, in the
Nationwide, with Campaign behaviour change. right place.
regional and district
tailoring to promote The initial focus is on
services available in informing people of all
certain areas. the care options
available virtually, on
the phone, at
pharmacies before
needing to see their GP,
Urgent Care centre or
ED.

Reducing the impact of COVID-19 on system pressure

In place COVID-19- Reduce the impact of People are able to

specific COVID-19 specifically on access health services
Te Tai Tokerau
surveillance, providers through staffed by a workforce
Auckland
response, and monitoring, surge and less affected by COVID-
Middlemore
services response plans, and 19.
Tauranga
services.
Mid Central
Wellington
Christchurch
Invercargill