‘Family doctor concept in NZ is dead’: GPs warn of collapse of primary care in NZ

“That one [the Herald’s video] “It was probably the most appalling display of injustice you could possibly ask for in primary care in New Zealand.”

Burrell likened the events captured on the video to a “Third World” health care system.

“We expect to see such images in Third World countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, but not in New Zealand. I think maybe what’s sad is that maybe you wouldn’t see that in Remuera,” he said.

He said patients, including the most vulnerable, were facing unacceptable waits across New Zealand, which were dangerous.

“The primary health care system is illness. The idea of ​​a family doctor is dead. Patients across the country have to wait weeks to see a doctor at their regular clinic, and even then, it’s not easy for them to see their regular doctor.”

True family medicine included continuity of care, where a patient could see the same GP as often as needed, he said.

“I think it’s too close to death to call it what it is. There are pockets of hope, but they are diminishing. It’s a scary statement and it’s really sad.”

Burrell, who has been a doctor and specialist in a rural hospital for 30 years, was in disbelief that the Government was prioritizing the general operation because it was “stupid” for politicians who chose to do so. hospital care campaign.

“Eventually, we will have a tipping point where we will have so few GPs that people will overburden emergency departments.”

He said that if only 6% of patients went to the emergency department instead of their local doctor, this would double the number of ED visits.

“That is a very shocking statistic. It shows how close we are to a second sector collapse. ”

He said GPs were “manipulated”, working short hours and overwhelmed with paperwork, which put patient safety at risk.

“There’s no doubt that we’re going to see the wrong deaths. The first chemicals are detected late, people die of heart disease, they die of other preventable diseases because we don’t catch them.”

Health Minister Shane Reti told the Herald technology has a role to play in easing the administrative burden.

“Reducing this burden will include solutions such as telehealth and inbox management,” he said.

Health New Zealand has introduced a 4% funding increase for GP clinics and provision to allow mechanisms to increase their fees.

The proposal has been widely criticized by doctors, including the chair of the General Practice Leaders Forum Dr Samantha Murton, who described the proposal as “unacceptable”.

Burrell admitted that the offer was disappointing.

“The increase of 4% of the budget does not go down with the drop of the seas. It should have been 140%,” he said.

Asked if he felt the Government was prioritizing general practice, Burrell said “not at all” and was disappointed by the Minister.

“I think we were all expecting GP Dr [the minister] it comes in all guns blazing, and in the first 100 days it promises and delivers on a huge improvement in general practice. ”

A Reti spokeswoman said GP staff were important to New Zealand.

He said: “The Minister really appreciates and appreciates the love of doctors like Buzz Burrell.”

“That one [general practice] It is indeed a challenging area, but the minister is determined to bring about change.”

Michael Morrah is a senior investigative reporter/team leader at the Herald. He won best coverage of a major news event at the 2024 Voyager NZ Media Awards and has been named reporter of the year twice. He has been a journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald’s video team in July 2024.