Updated 10 September 2010:

Priority 2 applications are waitlisted until Ministry of Health Equipment and Modification Services budget becomes available. Currently budget has been made available up to January 2009 and any Priority 2 applications received prior to this date have been approved.

Common List: Applications are processed within 10 days.

Complex, Priority 1 and Priority 2 Equipment: Applications are processed and put through Stores to check availability of Store equipment. There can be a delay in terms of processing work load and for budget availability (42.4 kb, PDF).

Replacement Equipment: Requests are processed within 10 working days*.

Urgent Complex Equipment: Processed within 10 working days*. Enable New Zealand will consider urgent applications where this is supported by the Professional Advisor or Clinical Leader at the assessment service. Such applications must be forwarded by email to the following email address: urgent@enable.co.nz. The request must note the reasons for urgency which must relate to immediate safety risks for the person or carers. Urgent applications will be processed as quickly as possible. Please note urgent does not mean ‘instant’. Urgency is accepted for issues of extreme risk on a case by case basis. This process will be regularly reviewed aiming to meet the needs for exceptional cases.

* Actual Delivery times may vary due to destination or availability of the product.

Enable New Zealand is contracted by the Ministry of Health to administer the Equipment and Modification Services (EMS) contract. This contract covers equipment (including EMS funded hearing aids), vehicle purchase and modifications and housing modifications for people with long-term disability related needs. EMS is not set up to provide equipment for discharge to home from hospital or any other type of acute service needs. This is the responsibility of District Health Boards.