A Plunket survey shows half the callers to its free phoneline would have visited their GP or an after hours service had they not been helped by the reinstated service.
Plunket line manager Jenny Allan says this represents a savings on other health services. She estimates for every 100 callers, 24 GP payments are saved.
A call to Plunket line costs the Government $12.82 compared with a GMS claim of $32.50. Ms Allan says 27 per cent of callers were referred by Plunket line to their doctors.
