New acute care and cancer treatment services for Dargaville

Dargaville residents now have better access to healthcare closer to home, with new acute care and local cancer treatment available in the community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

"Everyone deserves access to timely, quality healthcare, no matter where they live. These changes will make it easier for people in Dargaville and the wider Kaipara community to get the care they need closer to home," Mr Brown says.

"From today, a new acute care service is operating in Dargaville from 8:00am to 8:30pm, seven days a week. This will significantly improve access to urgent healthcare and reduce the need for patients to travel to Whangārei for treatment.

"Until now, many people needing urgent care outside normal business hours have faced a long drive to access treatment. Now, more people will receive timely care in their own community, making it easier for families to get the treatment they need and reducing pressure on our emergency departments.

"Patients will be able to be assessed and treated for a wide range of conditions, including abdominal pain, back pain, minor head injuries, minor burns, chest infections, asthma attacks, eye and ear infections, fractures, and sprains and strains.”

The acute care clinic forms part of the Government's national Urgent Care and After-Hours Framework, which aims to ensure 98 per cent of New Zealanders can access in-person urgent care within a one-hour drive.

Mr Brown says Dargaville patients are also now able to receive cancer treatment closer to home through a new oncology infusion service.

"Receiving cancer treatment is challenging enough without the added burden of regular long-distance travel.

"Four purpose-built infusion chairs are expected to support around 70 patients each year from across the Kaipara District, delivering approximately 720 chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted cancer treatments annually.

"This means patients can spend less time on the road, remain close to their family and support networks, and receive treatment in their own community."

The Dargaville infusion unit is part of a wider expansion of oncology services across the country, alongside facilities in the Bay of Islands, Kaitaia, and Whangārei.

“This is about putting patients at the centre of the health system and improving access to timely treatment, particularly for people living in rural and regional New Zealand.

"We are focused on fixing the basics and building the future of our healthcare system. Bringing more healthcare closer to home will make a real difference for the people of Dargaville and the wider Kaipara community," Mr Brown says. ...