GPA news
GPs scratching their heads about Government’s $164 million urgent care promise
The government has completely missed the point, says General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA). Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced a $164 million announcement over four years for urgent care and after hours care. That money is earmarked for opening new 24-hour urgent care services in five cities, as well as expanding daytime and after-hours services in…
Have you heard of capitation? This one weird word is why you can’t get a GP appointment
Well, it’s one of the main reasons.On Friday, NBR’s Tim Hunter wrote an article, A window on the world of general practice (paywalled), outlining some realities of the GP industry.And it is an industry – almost all family health clinics in Aotearoa New Zealand are not part of the public healthcare system. They are privately…
Response to consultation on ‘Putting Patients First’ health workforce regulation document
The Government is inviting New Zealanders to share their views on health workforce regulation by 11.59 pm Wednesday 30 April.The consultation is a series of questions, which we are making a submission on.GPA notes that our submission represents the views of the organisation, and a representative view of our members. However, our members are diverse…
New partnership announced: PassGP study resources for registrars
PassGP is a study resource for registrars, and has just launched a bank of GPEP and RHMTP questions, available exclusively to GPA members.Last year we partnered with PassGP to save GPA members more than the cost of their GPA membership when accessing the Australian study package (which many found useful for studying for NZ exams).This…
$285 million GP funding boost a good start, but more information needed
Health Minister Simeon Brown announced this week that Health New Zealand would provide a $285 million “uplift for general practice over three years”.General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) is very happy to see the new Minister focusing his attention on general practice, and welcomes the funding.“We are excited about this announcement, and are waiting with bated breath…
Prime Minister sends clear message: Don’t bother training as a GP
General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) strongly condemns comments Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made on Newstalk ZB’s Kerre Woodham Mornings show on Friday.Asked by a caller about the lack of positions in hospitals for new nurses, Luxon suggests they could replace general practitioners (GPs) instead.“We’ve now got actually a lot of nurses coming through the system and…
Dear David Seymour: Our health system is sacrosanct
On Friday, in Associate Minister of Health David Seymour’s State of the Nation speech, he floated the idea of giving New Zealanders the option of opting out of the public health system.General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) encourages this Government to continue to support the people of Aotearoa New Zealand so nobody is left without access to…
Response to naming of GP in Stuff article ‘Too scared to move’
This letter was written to Stuff journalist Mildred Armah, and Stuff and Manawatū Standard editors, on behalf of GPA.Dear Mildred, and the Stuff and Manawatū Standard editorial teams,I am writing as Chair of General Practitioners Aotearoa, in response to the January 27 article “Too scared to move: Woman feels ‘nailed to bed’ after allegedly being denied pain medication”.I want…
Briefing to incoming Minister of Health, Hon Simeon Brown
To the Honourable Simeon Brown,Congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Health. We are encouraged to hear you have made it a priority to reduce patient wait times for GP appointments.We hope that you will bring a fresh drive to pull the health system out of crisis, and that you will invest in primary healthcare,…
Opposition to Government funding of certain smoking cessation products
General Practitioners Aotearoa opposes the Government’s recent decision to fund specific smoking cessation products, namely vaping kits.As New Zealand’s only independent organisation representing general practitioners, General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) is committed to keeping an open mind and supporting evidence-based strategies to reduce smoking prevalence and improve public health.We are very concerned that the Government is…