Lay summary
Many acute health care services can be provided in primary care settings. In greater Auckland, Accident and Medical centres meet many acute care needs appropriately. However, high A&M co-payments present a significant barrier to many patients. Our research seeks to evaluate two BSMC-related initiatives sponsored by the Greater Auckland Integrated Health Network (GAIHN) that aim to sustainably reduce hospital emergency department demand growth and enhance the provision of appropriate acute-care services in community settings by subsidising the cost of A&M consultations. These initiatives are the Auckland After-Hours initiative and the St John Transport Project. We will evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives, using a research approach that involves the collection and integration of multiple quantitative and qualitative sources of data. We will also develop models of acute- and after-hours care utilisation and initiative implementation that will provide a valuable decision-making resource for health funders and policymakers.