Tech problems, understaffing behind long Healthline wait times

Published: Feb. 26, 2021, 5:08 a.m.

Technical problems and not enough people to answer the phone led to some long waits to get through to Healthline, a Ministry of Health review has found. On Thursday Lisa-Marie told Checkpoint she was told to self isolate for 14 days after she went to Kmart Botany, while a teenager who tested positive for Covid-19 was working there. Lisa-Marie waited almost eight hours on the phone to Healthline in order to find out if her family also needed to isolate. It turns out there were only five staff in the Auckland call centre that night. Nita Blake-Persen has the details.