Photo: Unsplash / Hush Naidoo Jade
A new survey finds family doctors are cutting services such as childhood immunisations due to chronic staff shortages and underfunding, amid what they are calling a crisis. The General Practice Owners Association (Gen Pro) survey warns GP services are at a critical crossroads. More than half (53%) essential family doctor clinics have reduced their services and over a third (36.5%) have completely withdrawn some services altogether. One-hundred and eighty five responses from member GPs across the country shows practices are struggling to find and retain doctors and nurses increasing waiting time for appointments, compromising patient health, and putting a burden on after hours and Emergency Departments. The survey found 55% of practices are not taking on new patients and three in every five general practices have a current vacancy for a GP. Nearly half (46%) say they've lost at least one nurse in the previous three months. My guest is Gen Pro CEO Philip Grant and Whangarei GP (and GenPro board member) Dr Geoff Cunningham.
