The Ministry of Health is completing the Health Sector Fuel Response Plan, which may expand the use of telehealth consultations if the government’s National Fuel Plan is escalated.
The ministry said it is collaborating with Health New Zealand, Pharmac, and other health agencies to identify and address any emerging risks.
New Zealand is currently under Phase 1 of the National Fuel Plan. In Phase 2, it said the health system would aim to reduce fuel consumption where possible while still maintaining patient access and continuity of care.
“This may include health service providers offering phone or video appointments for some services, where appropriate, while ensuring people can still access in-person care when it is needed,” a Ministry of Health spokesperson said.
At Phases 3 and 4, the government would implement measures to manage fuel supply and prioritise access. The specific details of these phases were still under consultation, but assurances had been made that essential services such as food supply and emergency response would be fully protected.
“Our expectation is that most or all health services will be categorised as life-supporting or essential and would therefore be prioritised for fuel allocation with no caps,” the spokesperson said.
Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland said he did not want to see patients face barriers or financial penalties as a result of the fuel crisis.
“It’s important that patients who do need to be seen physically by a medical professional are not disadvantaged or have a barrier put in front of them by the way of fuel costs,” he said.
“If barriers are put in place, then patients won’t get the care that they so desperately need, on occasion, so it’s really important that is a major factor in the decision-making moving forward.”
Mulholland also said it was important for people to understand that some cases still required in-person care, rather than phone or video consultations. He added that a rise in telehealth appointments could also have a flow-on effect for emergency departments.
“If patients have barriers put in place to see their GP, then it will result in EDs becoming flooded, because that is the natural place where people go if they can’t get primary care.”