Canterbury’s At-Home Acute Care Service Marks 25 Years, Easing Hospital Pressures

Canterbury’s Acute Demand Management Service (ADMS), which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, now supports around 110 patients each day.

A pioneering Canterbury health initiative is transforming the way acute care is delivered in New Zealand, enabling thousands of residents to receive timely, high-quality treatment in the comfort of their own homes. Health Minister Simeon Brown says the programme is not only improving patient experience but also freeing up vital hospital capacity for those who need it most.

Canterbury’s Acute Demand Management Service (ADMS), which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, now supports around 110 patients each day. Of these, about 90 patients receive general practice-led in-home treatment, an effort that effectively mirrors the workload of four to six fully operational hospital wards, but delivered directly in the community.

A further 20–25 patients receive intensive clinical support from the mobile acute nursing team, many of whom are referred straight from Christchurch Hospital and would otherwise require an extended inpatient stay.

Minister Brown describes the service as a model of efficient and compassionate healthcare delivery. “This service is delivering real benefits for people who become unwell but can safely receive treatment or tests without being in hospital,” he says. “Patients receive care tailored to their needs, in a community setting where they feel safe, supported, and at home. At the same time, it ensures Christchurch Hospital can focus on those needing hospital-level care.”

How the Service Works

The ADMS operates under the oversight of primary care doctors, who maintain direct connections with hospital specialists. Highly skilled community nurses and allied health professionals deliver frontline care, ensuring continuity between home and hospital settings.

This integrated approach allows the service to manage a wide range of urgent health conditions, including:

• Chest pain – over 9,000 people annually

• Abdominal pain – more than 7,000 annually

• Deep vein thrombosis – nearly 3,000 annually

• Palpitations and atrial fibrillation – almost 3,000

• Pneumonia – nearly 3,000 people each year

Many of these conditions traditionally required hospital admission, but advances in care coordination, mobile diagnostics, and clinical decision-making now allow safe monitoring and treatment at home.

Growing Impact Over the Past Year

In the year ending 30 June, the service delivered:

• 33,000+ packages of GP-led in-home care, averaging 178 per weekday

• 2,573 referrals managed by the mobile acute nursing team, with patients typically supported for about four days

• Nearly 13,000 diagnostic tests, including CT scans, ultrasounds, and x-rays, coordinated directly for home-based patients

These figures highlight a growing reliance on community-led acute care and reflect nationwide efforts to reduce hospital overcrowding.

A Proven Model for New Zealand’s Future Health System

According to Minister Brown, the success of the Acute Demand Management Service lies in its strong collaboration between community health workers and hospital specialists, enabling hospital-level care to be safely provided at home.

“Over the past 25 years, this service has transformed care in Canterbury,” he says. “Its patient-focused design ensures people receive the right care at the right time while keeping hospital resources available for those with higher needs.”

High patient satisfaction scores consistently reinforce the service’s value. Health leaders also note that Canterbury’s model has become an example for other regions exploring innovative ways to reduce pressure on hospitals and strengthen primary care.

As New Zealand faces increasing demand on its health system, services like Canterbury’s ADMS demonstrate how community-based solutions can improve outcomes, enhance patient wellbeing, and ensure sustainable care for future generations.