New Zealand Telehealth Services Adds AI Support for Mental Health Helpline
Whakarongorau Aotearoa will launch a Microsoft Azure AI service in May to handle initial patient contacts on the national mental health helpline 1737 Need to talk? and Women's Refuge webchat.
The AI will identify itself as automated assistance, collect background information, and offer support before connecting users with trained staff. It will not provide clinical care.
The service is part of a broader digital overhaul that includes migration to Microsoft's New Zealand data centre, new reporting tools, workflow automation, and AI assistants designed to guide staff.
University of Queensland Tests Remote Aphasia Therapy
Researchers at the University of Queensland are recruiting roughly 15 post-stroke aphasia patients to test an eight-week intensive therapy program delivered by telehealth for people in rural and remote areas.
The Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) program is being run with Metro North Health clinicians at the Herston Health Precinct. The study builds on earlier pilot work from 2021 to 2023 where about 90% of participants showed improvement in communication, confidence, and quality of life.
New Zealand Health Service Funds Pharmacy-Based Online GP Consultations
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand is funding community pharmacies to set up private digital spaces where patients can consult a general practitioner online.
The funding is part of efforts to improve primary care access for people who have difficulty reaching or enrolling with a GP. Selected pharmacies will receive support to establish the necessary infrastructure.
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