GP group calls for more support for in-person visits
Funding, face-to-face consultations and a sustainable workforce are among the seven things GenPro says are needed to restore general practice.
The General Practice Owners Association, which represents the owners of independent general practices and urgent care centres, has launched its manifesto amid a surge of winter illness, compounding years of underfunding and recent staff shortages in the health sector.
It is calling on political parties to make the long-term sustainability of frontline general practice a priority at November’s election.
GenPro chair Dr Angus Chambers said practices across New Zealand were under sustained financial and workforce pressure.
“General practice is the front door to our health system. When people can access the right care at the right time in their local community, they are more likely to stay well and less likely to need hospital care.
“But that depends on having a financially sustainable general practice sector with enough doctors, nurses and other health professionals to meet demand. Political parties have an opportunity at this election to put general practice on a sustainable footing for the long term,” he said.
GenPro has asked for several actions:
1. Invest in frontline general practice
A 30 percent cumulative increase in general practice funding over three years.An independent mechanism to adjust funding for the true cost of delivering care.A five-year funding pathway to provide certainty for practices.Targeted funding for patients with complex health needs.Targeted funding for rural and remote practices.
2. Support long-term GP-patient relationships
For continuity of care to be recognised as a core quality measure, with every enrolled patient having access to a named GP or nurse practitioner.Face-to-face consultations to remain the foundation of primary care, with telehealth used to complement rather than replace in-person care.
3. Strengthen rural and urgent after-hours care
Increased rural funding.Stronger support for rural workforce recruitment and retention.Investment in infrastructure and digital connectivity.
The General Practice Owners Association is calling on political parties to make the long-term sustainability of frontline general practice a priority at November’s election
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4. Less bureaucracy and greater funding transparency – reducing unnecessary administration and ensuring more health funding reaches frontline patient care
5. Support for independent, community-owned general practice – protecting the owner-operated model providing continuity of care and ensuring government policy supports a diverse, community-based primary care sector
6. A stronger voice for general practice
Ensure GenPro is meaningfully consulted early on significant changes to funding, service design and policy.
7. A sustainable general practice workforce
Improve funding so general practice can offer competitive employment conditions.Support internationally qualified clinicians.Help the next generation of GPs buy into independent practices.
Chambers said the manifesto was designed to provide political parties with a roadmap rather than simply identify problems.
“These seven steps would help strengthen access to care, reduce avoidable pressure on hospitals and deliver better value for taxpayers,” he said.
Chambers said the evidence was clear – people live better, healthier lives when they’re seen by the same doctor or nurse practitioner.
He said continuity of care and face-to-face consultations must be a priority. He said there was a place for tele-health, but that it should complement, rather than replace in-person care.
“We get a lot more information with [patients] being in-person. A very key part of detecting illness and making sure somebody is okay … is actually a physical examination.
“There’s only so much you can achieve via tele-health.”
Chambers wanted to see more GPs, particularly in rural areas, and said investing in primary care would help reduce the strain on emergency departments.
Staff at Auckland and Wellington hospital emergency departments have reported struggling to keep up with a surge in demand in recent weeks.
Chambers said a key part of primary care was prevention and early intervention.
“Managing chronic disease well, so people don’t deteriorate so much, that will keep people out of hospitals.”
He said every election was critical to healthcare and hoped political parties would take note of the manifesto before finalising their policies.
“We’re seeing a system that’s really groaning under the strains at the moment and in a fiscally constrained environment, that’s difficult, but in the end, it will cost us more if we don’t invest now.”