Lack of doctors having big impact on viability of GPs

• Published date: 11 April 2024
• Author: Rebecca Mauger
• Publication title: Katikati Advertiser

Clinical director and GP Vicky Jones said wait times for routine appointments ranged from a few days to several weeks depending on the doctor

“Wait times across the motu have blown out in many places to as long as six weeks.”

She said they now had a new doctor whose wait times were shorter and who was accepting new patients.

Doctors in primary healthcare services are expressing their concerns about the workforce and funding crisis.

Jones was concerned general practices in New Zealand were in danger of becoming insolvent, although that was not an immediate concern for Katikati Medical Centre.

“At Katikati Medical Centre we really do not want this to happen and are working as efficiently as we can with the resources available.”

She said improving terms and conditions to match those of hospitals was needed to attract more doctors into the GP practices.

Primary health organisation general practices received a capitation payment based on the number of patients enrolled. This payment had not increased in line with inflation, Jones said.

“And we all know that costs have escalated. This capitation payment used to contribute towards approximately four visits a year, but now only pays towards about two and a half visits.”

The funding model for GPs was based on time spent in front of patients — administration work is unpaid.

“This time is usually done in the evening and at weekends so that appointments remain available in the day. Unsurprisingly, many doctors are now electing to go to Australia where conditions generally are far more favourable.”

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