You’ll see that with every government funded line. It’s disgusting, there’s up to an hours wait for the mental health crisis line and we wonder why there’s a crisis in NZ atm
This isn't true, there has always been wait time and the government hasn't made any changes to health line, you can't just throw rocks at them over everything, get a grip.
I think you misinterpreted their statement. Government as is governmental, not specific relating to National. Healthline has always sucked as have most governmental agency helplines.
Has it been a few years since you've called? The wait time seemed to develop during covid when so many people were calling for advice - before then they mostly answered straight away. Maybe because more people are aware of the service now? Could be cuts I guess but I'm not sure if they've been affected by those yet though
I love healthline so much, I hope they aren't facing service cuts, I've called them so many times over the years with various kids injuries and illnesses! They've told me when to go to afterhours and also given me advice on when to worry about a toddler with a stomach bug to assuring me that the babies red swollen eyelid was likely just a scratch or insect bite and she would be fine if I put her down for a nap!
I spent 2.5 years working for Covid Healthline and it was always crazy on public holidays when the organisation knew full well GPs were closed and instead of bolstering staff, they would put only a handful of staff working the Healthline line. Crazy to see just 5-10 clinicians trying to make their way through a call queue in the hundreds with wait times into the 1-2+hours. Smart people were calling Covid Healthline for non Covid related queries instead because we had no wait time on our line.
It has at many points in the past. Was like that when I called in 2019 with very sick child. And again with sick child in 2021. In fact every time I have called with one exception I have had a very long wait time.
Given Healthline is run by a privately owned company and has a long term contract how exactly do you think cuts could immediately affect it?
Context is important.
20m on hold for emergency services? To long.
20m on hold to the bank to ask about some charges you have on your account from a Friday in town? Sounds normal
Sometimes, it's hard for the Average Joe to tell if it's an emergency, though. I called Healthline the other week, feeling like absolute crap. Kind lady told me to head straight to A&E. Turned out, my heart rate was 140 and I had sepsis. Ended up getting transferred to a bigger hospital via ambo.
In saying that, my wait time was pretty good. Like 5 minutes. No complaints from me!
lmao its had 1hr+ wait times for 10+ years
this is like complaining the hospital has wait times. yeah it would be nice to go hospital and not have to wait at all, but considering thats never been done anywhere in the world as far as im aware, its unlikely to be done here
Last time I called Healthline it was 2am on a Saturday and I'd just been woken by my husband, who was in severe pain. After 10 minutes on hold I'd finally managed to wake up enough to realise I was probably phoning the wrong service. I hung up and dialled 111, who picked up straight away and had him in an ambulance in 20 minutes.
Which is to say, I guess, try to use your hold time to do something useful regarding the situation (in my case, this was reconsider my course of action, but there might be practical things you can do too).
Quit being so entitled. 20 minutes is nothing. Have a cup of tea and settle down.
Health-line isn’t an emergency service and not intended for life threatening illness. If you can’t wait 20mins because it’s that serious, skip health-line and go straight to 111.
This, you don't accrual even have to wait you can now book a call back on the app. It's such a great service but people still got to whinge. In fact are we just becoming a nation of whinging people or is it just reddit.
You’ll see that with every government funded line. It’s disgusting, there’s up to an hours wait for the mental health crisis line and we wonder why there’s a crisis in NZ atm
This isn't true, there has always been wait time and the government hasn't made any changes to health line, you can't just throw rocks at them over everything, get a grip.
I think you misinterpreted their statement. Government as is governmental, not specific relating to National. Healthline has always sucked as have most governmental agency helplines.
Has it been a few years since you've called? The wait time seemed to develop during covid when so many people were calling for advice - before then they mostly answered straight away. Maybe because more people are aware of the service now? Could be cuts I guess but I'm not sure if they've been affected by those yet though I love healthline so much, I hope they aren't facing service cuts, I've called them so many times over the years with various kids injuries and illnesses! They've told me when to go to afterhours and also given me advice on when to worry about a toddler with a stomach bug to assuring me that the babies red swollen eyelid was likely just a scratch or insect bite and she would be fine if I put her down for a nap!
I spent 2.5 years working for Covid Healthline and it was always crazy on public holidays when the organisation knew full well GPs were closed and instead of bolstering staff, they would put only a handful of staff working the Healthline line. Crazy to see just 5-10 clinicians trying to make their way through a call queue in the hundreds with wait times into the 1-2+hours. Smart people were calling Covid Healthline for non Covid related queries instead because we had no wait time on our line.
They also think health care stops at 4pm and only works Monday to Friday. We should be concerned about who ever is running this.
What do you mean ? Healthline runs 24/7 365.
Gaslighting
I had that experience when I last called them about three years ago.
Same. Except triple how long you have waited and add on 10 minutes.
Yeah, me too. It was at 8am on a weekday, so I figured it was a busy time of day.
Probably when national asked for it's ministries to cut spending
Use the app and you can book a call back. If you can't wait 20min then your situation is probably more urgent than healthline.
I tried that a few months ago. They never called back.
Try Studylink lol. 1 hour + easy.
Recently, I've been having 5-20 minutes, and I thought I called the wrong number.
It's getting late, thought I saw 1 hour plus an essay haha.
It has at many points in the past. Was like that when I called in 2019 with very sick child. And again with sick child in 2021. In fact every time I have called with one exception I have had a very long wait time. Given Healthline is run by a privately owned company and has a long term contract how exactly do you think cuts could immediately affect it?
Have used the Healthline on and off throughout the years (including this year) and haven’t had to wait. You might’ve struck a very busy time.
imagine thinking 20 mins is long for a hold call...
Context is important. 20m on hold for emergency services? To long. 20m on hold to the bank to ask about some charges you have on your account from a Friday in town? Sounds normal
You shouldn't be relying on advice from healthline in an emergency.
Sometimes, it's hard for the Average Joe to tell if it's an emergency, though. I called Healthline the other week, feeling like absolute crap. Kind lady told me to head straight to A&E. Turned out, my heart rate was 140 and I had sepsis. Ended up getting transferred to a bigger hospital via ambo. In saying that, my wait time was pretty good. Like 5 minutes. No complaints from me!
lmao its had 1hr+ wait times for 10+ years this is like complaining the hospital has wait times. yeah it would be nice to go hospital and not have to wait at all, but considering thats never been done anywhere in the world as far as im aware, its unlikely to be done here
7.5% longer wait
Quite often actually. Last two times I’ve called it’s been a long wait and I’ve opted for call backs
Oh sweet summer child, that's a quick waiting time and it's only going to get worse. Go nactnz /s
Last time I called Healthline it was 2am on a Saturday and I'd just been woken by my husband, who was in severe pain. After 10 minutes on hold I'd finally managed to wake up enough to realise I was probably phoning the wrong service. I hung up and dialled 111, who picked up straight away and had him in an ambulance in 20 minutes. Which is to say, I guess, try to use your hold time to do something useful regarding the situation (in my case, this was reconsider my course of action, but there might be practical things you can do too).
Quit being so entitled. 20 minutes is nothing. Have a cup of tea and settle down. Health-line isn’t an emergency service and not intended for life threatening illness. If you can’t wait 20mins because it’s that serious, skip health-line and go straight to 111.
This, you don't accrual even have to wait you can now book a call back on the app. It's such a great service but people still got to whinge. In fact are we just becoming a nation of whinging people or is it just reddit.
seems quick for a free service
First time calling? You can't blame national for health line being busy they always were on weekend nights
How dare you say that something bad isn't directly because of National lol
Since 2005
20mins doesn't seem that bad We're pampered babies in this country
Dick, I wait longer than that when I pay to see a health professional. It's ok to have to wait for free stuff.