Health New Zealand

​After Hours and Urgent Care Services for Timaru

Health NZ/ Te Whatu Ora are seeking After Hours and Urgent Care services in Timaru that achieve health outcomes through the following objectives:

- Provide timely, accessible urgent and after-hours care through consistent and extended operating hours that meet the needs of the Timaru community, including evenings and weekends.
- Deliver safe, high-quality, community-based care that reduces avoidable emergency department presentations and ensures patients receive care in the right place at the right time.
- Establish a sustainable, primary care-led service model supported by an appropriate multidisciplinary workforce, capable of meeting current and future demand.
- Improve patient access and experience by providing a single, integrated service model that is easy to navigate and aligned with primary care and hospital pathways.
- Support equity of access and outcomes, particularly for Māori and rural populations, by reducing barriers to timely urgent care and ensuring services are culturally appropriate and responsive.
- Enable effective integration with local health system partners, including general practice, hospital services, and virtual care options, to ensure coordinated and continuous care.

From a services perspective success will be measured by the extent to which the service improves timely access to urgent care, reduces emergency department demand, and delivers equitable, culturally competent, and high-quality outcomes for the Timaru population in alignment with the Urgent and After-Hours Care Framework.

Department/Business Unit: National Procurement