A Westport woman says her appointment with the West Coast's new telehealth provider, Ka Ora, had her being told to "pop down" to a pharmacy a two and a half hour drive away.

Health New Zealand's latest quarterly report showed ... with overworked GPs saying they could no longer provide cover. Westport's hospital was closed over Wednesday due to staff illness.

An estimated 35,000 people protested against possible cuts to Dunedin Hospital, police say ... about 1000 people took to the streets of Westport on the West Coast in a silent protest over the ...