Newsable: Majority of GPs unable to take on new patients
Friday, 8 March 2024
A new survey has found just 28% of GPs are able to freely enroll new patients, with the rest saying they are either unable to or have to be very selective.
The “closed books” situation has experts concerned.
Newsable speaks with one of the researchers about what this means for access to healthcare in New Zealand.
There is no denying the country’s health system is in dire need of a shot of adrenaline, and a new report this morning has revealed people are getting turned away from general practices.
Researchers from the Victoria University surveyed 220 GP staff and found just 28% of the country’s general practices are freely able to enrol new patients, whereas the rest are either having to be highly selective or simply refuse to take on anyone new.
Speaking on Stuff’s daily podcast, Newsable, Dr Mona Jefferys, one of those who wrote the report published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, said not having access to a GP means people end up in our overloaded hospital system.
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“We know [hospitals] are overrun and we know that many, many people are turning up with conditions which really should be treated in primary care - but if you can’t get to see a GP, [hospitals] are where people tend to go,” the Associate Professor at Victoria University told Newsable.
She also stressed the importance of people having access to general practices.
“[We’ve found] people who are not enrolled with a GP.. are actually more likely to die from what we call ‘amenable causes’ - causes which should be, and could be, treated in primary healthcare.”
Jefferys called on Health Minister Dr Shane Reti to prioritise better funding for primary healthcare.
“We really need to look at the funding.. we know if more money is put into primary care, then we’re actually stopping people going to hospital,” she said.
In a statement, the Minister told Newsable there are big discussions to be had between him, his cabinet colleagues, and officials around tackling the country’s health crisis.
“I’m already on the record that the overall funding model for general practice isn’t fit-for-purpose,” he said.
“As a former GP, I’m very aware of the pressures around the sector and the pressures on individuals.. we all want a sustainable solution for primary care providers - we know what a vital role primary care plays in health.”
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