Find the right healthcare for you and your whānau

There are many ways you can get the right care and advice for you and your whānau when you feel unwell, have an injury or a health concern. Call 111 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you or someone else has a medical emergency.

Who can help

Select the option that best describes your needs.

Life-threatening emergencies

In any critical or life-threatening emergency call 111 for an ambulance.

Critical or life-threatening emergencies include:

chest pain or tightness (they may also feel pain or tightness in their arm, jaw, neck or tummy)
difficulty breathing
choking
sudden weakness or difficulty talking (this may be a stroke )
fainting or unconsciousness (not being awake)
severe pain
severe bleeding or bleeding that won’t stop.
serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
severe burn.

You can also go straight to an emergency department (ED).

Find an ED — Healthpoint (external link)

When to go to ED (internal link)

If it is not life-threatening

If you are not experiencing a life-threatening emergency, but cannot wait to see your doctor or usual healthcare provider (or you do not have one) go to an after hours or urgent medical centre. They can help with most medical problems and accident care including:

bad cuts that may need stitching
sprains or minor bone breaks as many have x-ray available on-site
minor head injuries

You do not need an appointment but might have to wait.

Find your nearest accident and urgent medical centre — Healthpoint (external link)

Call Healthline for free

Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, free over-the-phone health service you can call for trusted health advice, information and treatment from professional healthcare providers.

Call Healthline: 0800 611 116 (external link)

Go to your usual GP or use an online doctor

If you are enrolled with a general practice (GP), their doctors, nurses and other team members can look after most of your healthcare. Same-day appointments may be available.

If you cannot wait to see your doctor or usual healthcare provider (or you do not have one) you can book a same-day appointment through an online doctor.

These appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call. They can prescribe medicine and send prescriptions to your nearest pharmacy.

Online and over-the-phone GP appointments (internal link)

Go to an after hours or urgent medical centre

If you are not experiencing a life-threatening emergency, but cannot wait to see your doctor or usual healthcare provider (or you do not have one) go to an after hours or urgent medical centre. They can help with most medical problems and accident care including:

bad cuts that may need stitching
sprains or minor bone breaks as many have x-ray available on-site
minor head injuries

You do not need an appointment but might have to wait.

Find your nearest accident and urgent medical centre — Healthpoint (external link)

Go to a pharmacy

Get advice on medicines and common issues like:

coughs and colds
bladder or eye infections
minor cuts and grazes
emergency birth control.

They can suggest over-the-counter treatment, fill prescriptions, and some give immunisations. You do not need an appointment.

Find your nearest pharmacy — Healthpoint (external link)

What you can go to the pharmacy for (internal link)

Emergency contraception

You can get the emergency contraceptive pill over the counter at most pharmacies or from your usual GP or healthcare provider. If you are 22 or under, you can get it free from a Sexual Wellbeing Aoteroa clinic. It is is most effective if you take it within 24 hours after unprotected sex, but it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 3 days after.

Find a pharmacy that provides the emergency contraceptive pill — Healthpoint (external link)

Find a Sexual Wellbeing Aoteroa clinic (external link)

Call Healthline for free

Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, free over-the-phone health service you can call for trusted health advice, information and treatment from professional healthcare providers.

Call Healthline: 0800 611 116 (external link)

Go to a pharmacy

Get advice on medicines and common issues like:

coughs and colds
bladder or eye infections
minor cuts and grazes
emergency birth control.

They can suggest over-the-counter treatment, fill prescriptions, and some give immunisations. You do not need an appointment.

Find your nearest pharmacy — Healthpoint (external link)

What you can go to the pharmacy for (internal link)

Go to your usual GP or use an online doctor

If you are enrolled with a general practice (GP), their doctors, nurses and other team members can look after most of your healthcare. Call to get advice or make an appointment.

If you cannot wait to see your doctor or usual healthcare provider (or you do not have one) you can book an appointment through an online doctor.

These appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call. They can prescribe medicine and send prescriptions to your nearest pharmacy.

Find a GP taking enrolments — Healthpoint (external link)

Online and over-the-phone GP appointments (internal link)

Find information online

There are lots of New Zealand health websites that can help with generic health concerns such as symptoms and treatments. 

Search this website (internal link)

Visit HealthInfo (external link)

Visit KidsHealth (external link)

Urgent mental health support

If you, or someone you know, needs immediate help:

call 111
go to your nearest emergency department (ED)
contact your local mental health crisis assessment team.

Mental health crisis assessment teams (internal link)

Find your nearest ED — Healthpoint (external link)

Talk to someone in person

Book an appointment with your usual GP or healthcare provider, or talk to a trusted healthcare professional. They can help you through next steps, including referrals to mental health services.

Māori, Pacific People and 12 to 24-year-olds can access free mental health services with no referral. Visit the Access and Choice website to find out how.

Access and Choice (external link)

Call a helpline

Free call or text 1737 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk with a trained counsellor. This service is free and confidential.

Call or text 1737 (external link)

Visit a mental health website

depression.org.nz provides information, validation and practical advice for those navigating depression and anxiety.

The Mental Health Foundation has lots of advice on how to find support for different circumstances as well as information about different mental health conditions.

Aroā Wellbeing is a resource hub with mindful tools created by rangatahi for rangatahi to support wellbeing.

depression.org.nz (external link)

Mental Health Foundation (external link)

Aroā Wellbeing (external link)

Emergencies

If you are concerned about yourself or your pēpi contact your midwife or doctor straight away.

If you do not have a midwife or doctor, go to the emergency department if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

heavy bleeding (soaking pads)
passing blood clots
having pain.

Find your nearest ED — Healthpoint (external link)

Pregnancy advice

Talk to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns or questions. If you do not have a midwife, you can search for one on the ‘Find your Midwife’ website. The New Zealand College of Midwives website also has lots of information and resources.

If you do not have a midwife or doctor, you can call Healthline. Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, free over-the-phone health service you can call for trusted health advice, information and treatment from professional healthcare providers.

Find a midwife (external link)

Call Healthline: 0800 611 116 (external link)

Mental health support

Talk to your midwife or doctor if you are worried about your mental health. You can also free call or text 1737 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk with a trained counsellor. This service is free and confidential.

Call or text 1737 (external link)

Emergency contraception

You can get the emergency contraceptive pill over the counter at most pharmacies or from your usual GP or healthcare provider. If you are 22 or under, you can get it free from a Sexual Wellbeing Aoteroa clinic. It is is most effective if you take it within 24 hours after unprotected sex, but it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 3 days after.

Find a pharmacy that provides the emergency contraceptive pill — Healthpoint (external link)

Find a Sexual Wellbeing Aoteroa clinic (external link)

If your pregnancy is unplanned

If you are thinking about having an abortion, DECIDE has the information you need about abortion services, abortion care, and how to find a provider near you.

DECIDE National Abortion Telehealth Service (external link)

Call Healthline for free advice

Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, free over-the-phone health service you can call for trusted health advice, information and treatment from professional healthcare providers.

Call Healthline: 0800 611 116

Find a provider on Healthpoint

The Healthpoint website provides up to date information about healthcare providers in your area. Find the services you need, where you need them.

Find a provider

Self care at home

With the right information and first aid supplies, many common health issues including coughs and colds, minor cuts and grazes, minor bruises and minor sprains can be managed at home without seeking medical help.

Find out more about self care

Pharmacy

Get advice on medicines and common issues like coughs and colds, bladder or eye infections, minor cuts and grazes, emergency birth control. They can suggest over-the-counter treatment, fill prescriptions, and some give immunisations.

Find pharmacies on Healthpoint

General practice

If you are enrolled with a general practice, their doctors, nurses and other team members can look after most of your healthcare. They review your symptoms, treat illness or injuries, prescribe medicines, and order tests or procedures.

About GPs and how to enrol

After hours and urgent medical centres

Go to a clinic that offers urgent care if you cannot wait for your doctor, or do not have one, for bad cuts, sprains or breaks, minor head injury, or feeling really sick. You do not need an appointment but might have to wait.

Find urgent care on Healthpoint

Emergency Department (ED) and ambulance

In any critical or life-threatening emergency call 111 or go to your nearest hospital ED. This is for chest pain, issues breathing or staying conscious, high fevers and distress, bleeding, broken bones, bad burns, or mental health emergencies.

Find an ED on Healthpoint

Conditions and treatments

Immunisations

Keeping well

Pregnancy and maternity

Mental health

Locations

Services

Find the right healthcare for you and your whānau

Who can help

Call Healthline for free advice

Find a provider on Healthpoint

Self care at home

Pharmacy

General practice

After hours and urgent medical centres

Emergency Department (ED) and ambulance