GP shortage worst it’s been: Mayor
A Taranaki district’s healthcare is almost at a ‘‘critical’’ point, with the population of 9500 soon to have just two general practitioners.
‘‘It’s the worst that I can recall in my memory,’’ said Neil Volzke, who has been the Stratford mayor for 13 years and had a seat at council since 2001.
‘‘I’m very concerned about what’s going to happen, especially with Omicron on our doorstep.’’
It’s only been in recent years that Stratford’s healthcare has been ‘‘more problematic’’, seeing some residents forced to travel an hour-long round trip to either Ha¯wera or New Plymouth to visit a GP, he said.
There are two medical centres in Stratford – the Avon Medical Centre, which has four doctors and one nurse prescriber, and the Regan Street Health Centre, which has one doctor.
Recently, Pinnacle Incorporated, which looks after Avon Medical Centre and many other GP practices in Taranaki, confirmed three doctors would be leaving by the end of this month.
While the organisation is ‘‘actively planning ahead’’, it had not found any replacements yet.
‘‘I am worried – we need to have medical services,’’ Volzke said. ‘‘It will be critical.’’
The average GP-to-patient ratio in New Zealand is one fulltime doctor to 1400 people.
Should Stratford have only two GPs, it will have one doctor to 4750 people – more than three times the national figure.
In recent decades, Stratford had been ‘‘quite well catered for’’ when it came to healthcare, Volzke said.
‘‘We’ve had quite a lot of stability for a long time. That’s what’s quite upsetting for a lot of people [now].’’
A few years back one practice closed, and in 2020 the district was promised three new doctors, after the community raised concerns when one practice, the Avon Medical Centre, was left with just one doctor.
Then, in October last year, the Stratford Medical Centre closed, leaving just the two practices, Volzke said.
In recent weeks and months, Volzke has been fielding calls from the community ‘‘expressing their concerns’’ about the shortage.
As a result, he reached out to the Taranaki District Health Board, as he saw ‘‘no light at the end of the tunnel’’ as there is a nationwide doctor shortage.
New Zealand needs about 1400 more GPs to match Australia’s per capita level, the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists estimates.
Volzke said while there was that issue, getting GPs to a small town was also difficult.
‘‘It’s really hard to attract doctors.’’
Taranaki DHB chief executive Rosemary Clements said it was a ‘‘complex issue’’.
‘‘[Taranaki] DHB is aware of the impending situation Stratford faces with the number of GPs soon to be available,’’ Clements said.
‘‘We are working with all agencies to support primary care in this community.’’
When contacted recently, Avon Medical Centre business manager Nathan Morris referred questions onto the Pinnacle’s media team.
Responding to those questions, Pinnacle acting chief executive Justin Butcher said the practice was working to fill the upcoming vacancies.
‘‘However, the national shortage of GPs is making it difficult and replacements have not been appointed at this time.’’
Butcher said the practice would ‘‘aim to deliver normal services’’.
‘‘While the practice is looking for new doctors, visiting locum GPs will be providing additional cover and virtual consults with out-of-town doctors will also be available.’’