Support for when your child is unwell
If your tamariki (children), you or your whānau (family) are unwell, these are the best ways to get support.
Call your local GP practice
Call your local GP practice - for advice or information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call Healthline free on 0800 611 116
- if you don't have a local GP practice
- if your child or you are feeling unwell but you're not sure if you need to see a doctor
- for advice about what's happening for your child or you and next steps
- if you want some advice about a family member or a friend who's sick (if you are with them)
- if you want advice on finding services near you
Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.
To find out about health services in your area you can visit Healthpoint. Healthpoint provides up-to-date information about healthcare providers, referral expectations, services offered and common treatments.
Call 111 in an emergency
In an emergency dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries).
A medical emergency includes difficulty breathing, choking, severe bleeding or bleeding that won't stop, chest pain or tightness, sudden weakness or difficulty talking, fainting or unconsciousness.
Good things to know about Healthline
The Healthline team are specialists in assessing and advising over the phone.
They can arrange to talk with you in your language - when your call is answered, say you'd like an interpreter and the language you'd like to speak in.
They can also engage with the NZ Relay Services and support you if you are deaf, hearing impaired, deafblind or speech impaired. Note that NZ Relay Services are only available for limited hours.
Phone calls are free - including from a mobile phone.
You can call anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Does it cost anything to call Healthline?
No. Phone calls are free from within New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.
General advice when your child is not sick
If you have questions about issues such as parenting, crying, sleeping, your child's growth, development, behaviour, vaccination, breastfeeding, nutrition, oral health, safety or want to know more about the Well Child Tamariki Ora programme, ring PlunketLine.
PlunketLine is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 933 922 for advice and support for you, your baby and your whānau. Calls are free from cell phones. You do not need to be registered with Plunket to use this service.
Other free telehealth services
The national telehealth services are an integrated range of free, professional health and mental health and addictions services. People can get information, advice and support from trained health professionals across phone, text, and online channels.
See the HealthEd website for links to national telehealth services and a National Telehealth Service wallet card.
