Healthpoint has launched Ask Healthpoint, a health system navigation tool powered by AI enabling consumers to access the health services they need faster and easier.
The new tool lets people describe what they need in their own words and receive clear, trusted, local service options – in the language they are most comfortable with. Ask Healthpoint is available via healthpoint.co.nz
Healthpoint Chief Executive Kate Rhind says, “It is one of the first of its kind. It’s built to search through the trusted national health data on Healthpoint. It has been rigorously tested by both end users and service providers over the past 12 months. It is free, available now, and can be used in multiple languages.”
Associate Minister of Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, said, “Often, the first step in seeking support is the hardest. Many people don’t know where to start, and it can feel overwhelming. With an accessible tool that Kiwis can access that clearly shows them what’s available in their area, we can ensure more people get the support they need.”
“Not knowing where to go or who to talk to has been reported as the reason for unmet mental health needs in one third of children and more than a quarter of adults. This new platform will help remove those barriers and guide people to the right support.”
Otara GP, Dr Harley Aish says: “If you’re not familiar with the health system, it can be hard to know where to start. Ask Healthpoint gets people to the right service, in plain language or their first language, so more people can connect with the care that’s right for them.”
Tiaki Whānau Ltd, not for profit charitable community service, spokesperson and co-founder Hera says “I’m actually excited to recommend that we move forward with this opportunity of sharing Ask Healthpoint with our whānau we deal with. I do hope and believe that Healthpoint AI will be that bridge to connect our people with these services they need.”
“Ask Healthpoint is a navigation tool, not a replacement for your doctor, nurse, or helpline. Its goal is to make it even simpler to find a health service that can help you, no matter the time of day, no matter the type of health concern, even if you don’t understand medical terms or English isn’t your first language,” Ms Rhind says.
“A person could simply say or type something like “I have a sore ear” and Ask Healthpoint will provide available options in the area. They’ll be able to see how the health services interact and relate to each other.”
“Built with input from health professionals, consumer voices, & Healthline call taker staff. Ask Healthpoint was developed over 12 months with 25 rounds of testing across a comprehensive test set. It included real world scenarios to make sure it consistently points people to the right types of services and shows clear ‘get help now’ prompts when urgent support is needed.
“Given data security is paramount in a technology-driven world, Ask Healthpoint has also been heavily tested by independent security experts, in ways a real attacker would, to ensure it is as robust as possible. We’re confident Ask Healthpoint will assist the country’s drive towards better, faster and seamless access to all health services. 22 years of Healthpoint directory expertise underpins this innovation and Ask Healthpoint will continue to evolve,” Ms Rhind says.
Every interaction with Ask Healthpoint is de-identified and logged for safety review. A live monitoring dashboard tracks performance continuously, and any errors or unexpected responses are flagged and addressed. Users can give direct feedback within the tool using a thumbs up/down rating after each response.
The assistant also has built-in guardrails – including code-level safeguards and over 140 prompt injection scenarios tested – to prevent unsafe or out-of-scope responses. If you have a concern, you can also contact Healthpoint directly by email.
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