Doctors welcome health minister's GP training funding shake-up
Photo:
Supplied
Doctors are welcoming the government's move to fully fund specialist GP training.
Previously, medical graduates only had their first year of specialist general practitioner training paid for, but now all three years would be covered.
The government would also cover the exam costs for about 200 trainees, and full education costs for about 400 year 2 and 3 trainees each year.
President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners - which delivers the 'General Practice Education Programme' - Dr Samantha Murton, said the changes brought GP training in line with all other medical training across New Zealand and Australia.
"This funding will be a gamechanger for current and future trainees. This is a significant acknowledgement for the specialism of the general practice workforce and the vital role we play in healthcare being as important as those of our peers in secondary hospital settings.
"Not only will this funding offer the necessary financial support our GP registrars need throughout their training, but we are optimistic that the news will encourage medical graduates who have an interest in general practice but have been put off by the financial barriers to make the step to train as a specialist GP. To them, I say welcome and you won't regret your decision."
Chief executive Toby Beaglehole said the college was enthusiastic that primary care funding was heading in the right direction.
"We are focused on building a
sustainable workforce for the future
, which starts with training and the equitability of our program costs to other specialist medical training.
"This funding sends a signal to the sector that the expertise of general practice is valued as a vital part of the health system."
Announcing the changes at a GP conference on Friday, Health Minister Simeon Brown said they would help
improve New Zealanders' access to primary healthcare
.
Health Minister Simeon Brown.
Photo:
Calvin Samuel / RNZ
He also announced the government's funding method for GP clinics, known as capitation, would be updated for the first time in more than 20 years, with changes taking effect from 1 July, 2026.
"The current model is outdated and doesn't reflect the needs of patients. The revised formula will go beyond just age and sex, to also include multimorbidity,
rurality
, and socioeconomic deprivation," Brown said.
"These changes will better distribute funding to where it's needed most, so that GP clinics with a higher needs population of enrolled patients will receive more funding to care for them."
A new national health target would be developed with the primary care sector, proposing to ensure that more than 80 percent of people could see a primary care provider within one week.
"People shouldn't have to wait weeks to see a doctor. Delays can lead to poorer health outcomes, more pressure on hospitals, and growing frustration for patients. We're focused on delivering timely, quality care that puts patients first."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
Patient-Focused New Zealand Health Plan Tabled
Minister of Health Health New Zealand's New Zealand Health Plan was tabled in Parliament this afternoon. Developed by Health New Zealand, the plan is a requirement under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. 'The plan outlines how Health New Zealand will deliver on the Government's health priorities over the period 2024–2027,' Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'It sets the direction for how we will improve health outcomes and ensure all New Zealanders can access the care they need, where and when they need it. 'It gives effect to the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027, with a clear focus on the Government's five health targets and five mental health targets: Health targets: faster cancer treatment improved childhood immunisation shorter stays in emergency departments shorter wait times for first specialist assessments shorter wait times for elective treatment. Mental health and addiction targets: faster access to specialist mental health and addiction services faster access to primary mental health and addiction services shorter mental health and addiction related stays in emergency departments increased mental health and addiction workforce development strengthened focus on prevention and early intervention. 'The plan is focused on achieving the Government's health targets, ensuring the health system delivers real results for patients and communities. These targets are backed by clear accountability and transparent reporting, so the public can track progress on a regular basis. 'Reducing wait times is a key priority for the Government. Too many New Zealanders have been left waiting far too long for the care they need. Under the last Government, waitlists ballooned – with the number of Kiwis waiting more than four months for elective procedures like hip, knee, or cataract surgeries increasing by over 2,500 per cent. 'Health New Zealand is focussed on delivering the Elective Boost programme, which will deliver 21,000 additional procedures over the 2025/2026 year to help clear the backlog of patients needing care.' The plan also sets out how the Government will grow and support the health workforce; improve clinical leadership with continuous quality improvement and innovation; invest in essential hospital infrastructure; ensure services are delivered more consistently across the country; and strengthen primary care across New Zealand so that people can receive timely, quality care in the community. 'Our focus is clear: putting patients back at the centre of the health system. We're building a system that delivers real results, and this plan is a key part of that,' Mr Brown says. Note:
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Staff 'responded immediately' when patient absconded from mental health facility
By Sam Sherwood of RNZ Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has reiterated to Health New Zealand that patient and public safety are of "paramount importance", after a man absconded from a mental health facility. Canterbury police released a statement about 9pm on Thursday appealing for information about the 35-year-old who had absconded from the care of another agency. Police had been notified about 6pm that the man was missing. They said he was dangerous and shouldn't be approached. The man was found about 10pm. RNZ understands the man absconded from Hillmorton Hospital. He was found about 6km away from the mental health facility. Health New Zealand has been approached for comment. A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey told RNZ his office was advised on Thursday night about a patient leaving Hillmorton. "The Minister was advised by Health New Zealand that safety of the individual and community was at the forefront in how they responded with police." HNZ staff "responded immediately" and worked with Police to safely locate the person and return them to Hillmorton last night. "Health New Zealand is taking the incident seriously and there will be a rapid review and will take appropriate action as required. "The Minister reiterated to HNZ that patient and public safety are of paramount importance, and Health New Zealand have assured the Minister that they are taking all the necessary steps to ensure both." The incident comes three years after Hillmorton forensic mental health patient Zakariye Mohamed Hussein murdered Laisa Waka Tunidau as she walked home from work. Hussein was on community leave at the time of the killing. Two reviews were ordered, one into Hussein's care, and another looking at Canterbury District Mental Health Services. In June another Hillmorton mental health patient, Elliot Cameron was sentenced in the High Court at Christchurch to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years for murdering 83-year-old Frances Anne Phelps, known as Faye in October last year. Following his sentencing a suppression order was lifted allowing RNZ to report Cameron killed his brother Jeffrey Cameron in 1975. A jury found him not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and he was detained as a special patient. Cameron was made a voluntary patient at Hillmorton Hospital in 2016, and then in October last year murdered Phelps, striking her with an axe. RNZ exclusively obtained emails from Cameron to his cousin Alan Cameron sent over more than a decade, detailing his concerns that he might kill again. In response to the revelations, Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money said it was hard to see Phelps' death as "anything other than preventable". RNZ earlier revealed another case involving a man who was made a special patient under the Mental Health Act after his first killing was recently found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity for a second time, after killing someone he believed was possessed. After that article, Money called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities. After Cameron's first killing was revealed, Money said she stood by her recommendation. "The public deserves an inquiry that can give actionable expert recommendations, as opposed to multiple coroners' inquests and recommendations that do not have the same binding influence. The patients themselves, and the public will be best served by an independent inquiry, not another internal review that changes nothing."
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- RNZ News
Māori life expectancy increases more than other ethnic group
A pepi (baby) waves a mana motuhake flag at Onepoto Domain. Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Life expectancy for Māori has increased more than any other ethnic group in New Zealand, Stats NZ has revealed this week. Despite Māori having the lowest life expectancy at birth, there has been a 3.1 year increase from the 2005-2007 to 2022-2024 periods, taking it to 75.8 years. Over the same time frame, life expectancy at birth for people who are Pākehā or other ethnicities each increased by 1.5 and 1.6 years. "Although life expectancy has increased since 2005-2007, the size of this increase has reduced over the past five years across all ethnicities - while Māori have continued to show some of the largest increases," Stats NZ population estimates and projections spokesperson Victoria Treliving said. "Across all ethnic groups, male life expectancy has increased faster than for females." In 2022-2024, life expectancy at birth was: The 2022-2024 data suggested that regional trends have remained consistent since data was first obtained for the 1990-1992 period. The Tasman region was estimated to have the highest life expectancy at birth for both males and females, 82.8 and 85.7 years, respectively. Auckland currently sits as the second highest region at 81.1 years for males and 84.3 years for females. Life expectancy at birth in Gisborne was - and has consistently been - the country's lowest with 77.9 years for males and 81.5 years for females. Of the 53,000 living in the Gisborne region according to the 2023 Census, 52.9 percent identify as Māori, compared to the 9.7 percent of the Tasman region who identify as Māori. "Subnational differences in life expectancy at birth reflect several interrelated factors, including health and socioeconomic factors," Treliving said. Life expectancy for the total population barely increased between 2017-2019 and 2022-2024. While male life expectancy grew from 80.0 to 80.1 years, it stalled at 83.5 years for females. "The increase in life expectancy over the last five years is the smallest since the early 1960s, when it dropped for males. It also follows a relatively small increase of 0.5 years for males and 0.3 years for females between 2012-2014 and 2017-2019," Treliving said the latest population projections assume that life expectancy could continue to increase in the future. Based on national population projections: 2024 (base) - 2078 life expectancy at birth could climb to: 82.3 years in 2033 and 84.6 years in 2048 for males, and 85.4 years in 2033 and 87.4 years in 2048 for females. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
