File photo. Photo: 123rf
A mass exodus is looming in general practice and among rural hospital doctors according to a new workplace survey.
The Royal New Zealand College of GPs survey of more than 1300 doctors showed a significant numbers are about to leave the workforce.
Thirty-four percent of the general practitioners surveyed planned to retire within the next five years.
Seventeen percent of the GP workforce are already at or over the retirement age.
More than half the GPs and more than a quarter of rural hospital doctors surveyed had reduced their working hours in the last year.
Meanwhile, 18 percent of GPs and more than a quarter of rural hospital doctors are considering leaving New Zealand.
Royal New Zealand College of GPs President Dr Luke Bradford said that more was needed to ensure GPs felt appreciated.
"Certainly, we are struggling to adapt the model to patients' needs and the demands on our workforce and making sure that they feel recognised and appreciated for the work and effort that goes into their training and workday," he told Checkpoint.
Bradford said pay was one element driving some away, but there were other factors at play.
"I think some of it comes down to the fact that we're still held to this 15-minute model ... we have to try and get everything done for patients within 15 minutes," he said.
"That results in what we know to be about 40 percent of our time, not with patients, trying to do follow-up work, and there's no recognition of that."
Bradford said GPs "absolutely" needed to be funded for longer appointments, as people often needed more.
He said people needed to know their time was recognised, and GPs aren't going to be expected to burn out, and instead, will have time to deliver their expertise.
"Some people only need 15 minutes, but some people really do need that longer time, and we should be able to recognise that and give it to the patients without them necessarily having to pay high fees for it," he said.
Bradford credited the government for attempting to combat the loss of GPs to retirement, such as the new medial school in Waikato, and funding for GP training for over three years.
But he said more doctors were still needed and they were working hard to push new ones through.
Bradford said in 2021 it was estimated they were 300 short of GPs across the country, but expected that number to be higher now.
He said New Zealand has about 70 GPs to a 100,000 population, while Canada has 120, and Australia have over 100.
Despite the lagging number, Bradford is confident the GP model is still the right one to implement.
"The general practice model is absolutely fundamental to a functioning and healthy society and functioning medical, and health service," he said.
"We have continuity of care, prevention, looking after people with chronic diseases is an absolute.
"Yes, we have to adapt. Yes, we have to change the model so that people can get to see people who they need at the right time. But, no, absolutely, the general practice model isn't dying."
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