Free health advice – a phone call away these holidays

Free health advice – a phone call away these holidays
Healthline 0800 611 116
29 December 2010

There are certain types of illnesses and accidents that, unfortunately, sometimes seem to go with summer holidays. Someone develops a splitting headache, a nasty rash, gets stung by a jellyfish or cuts their foot on some broken glass.

Thankfully, you can turn to the Ministry of Health-funded Healthline service. Wherever you are in the country, if there’s telephone coverage, help is at hand.

Healthline – 0800 611 116 – is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by registered nurses who can advise you on what’s best to do and how urgently you should do it.

Depending on your health issue, that could be advice to see a GP within 24 hours or to visit the emergency department right away. Up to 40 percent of callers are given information to self-manage the condition, including things to try and advice on what to watch out for. A small percentage of callers are put through to 111.

Healthline Senior Nurse Advisor Janet Harp says many of the calls received over the New Year period relate to holiday ailments or mishaps.

“We get lots of calls about those things that can happen when people are enjoying summer holiday activities – from sunburn and dehydration, to headaches, bites and stings from insects and jelly fish, and food poisoning – especially from shellfish.”

Heathline nurses can also direct you to the nearest GP clinic or after-hours pharmacy.

For free confidential health advice from a registered nurse these holidays, phone Healthline on 0800 611 116.