Planned Care reflects a new direction for publicly-funded healthcare in New Zealand. It is about providing services based on clinical need and people’s preferences to achieve better health outcomes, within the resources available, in a timely and respectful way. Planned Care aims to consider medical and surgical activity in a way that is not limited to hospital settings or groups of health professionals. Rather than supporting just hospital-based care, Planned Care refers to services delivered in the most appropriate setting, by the most appropriate person, based on a person’s clinical needs.

Planned Care generally begins from the point a person is referred for specialised care from their primary care provider or other health professional. It includes more than just hospital-based care and admissions, and covers all appointments and support that people need during their healthcare journey.