Nine general practices signed up to the first tranche in a new Health Care Homes program being rolled out in Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti that aims to provide easier access to GPs and reduce hospital admissions for people with long-term conditions.

Expressions of interest in the program were opened last October, with nine practices signed up by December. The program, developed by Capital & Coast DHB in partnership with the Compass Health, Cosine, Well Health and Ora Toa primary health organisations (PHOs), is expected to cover up to 185,000 patients. Capital & Coast DHB has invested $6 million in the trial and the PHOs $2m.