Boards should consider employing salaried GP's

3 February 2005

“More district health boards should consider employing salaried gps to overcome shortages”

“More district health boards should follow the lead of the West Coast DHB and offer general practitioners the option of direct salaried employment with them in order to overcome New Zealand’s serious GP shortages and to meet the needs of a new generation of younger GPs,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.

Mr Powell was commenting on the large advertisement in the latest issue of NZ Doctor (26 January, p.34) by the West Coast DHB seeking salaried GPs to be employed under the recently negotiated new national collective agreement covering senior doctors employed by DHBs.

He was also responding to the statement today by Dr Larry Jordan, chairperson of the Porirua Primary Health Organisation, that there is a growing trend among younger GPs wanting salaried employment rather than putting up with the pressures of buying and running a medical business.

“There are serious GP shortages in both rural and urban New Zealand with increasing numbers of people being denied access to GPs. But, ironically access to improved primary care is a government health priority.”

“The new senior doctors’ national collective agreement could be an effective recruitment tool to encourage GPs to take up salaried employment with DHBs. In addition to stronger protections, rights and security, it includes competitive salary scales, six weeks annual leave, compensation for working on after-hours rosters, superannuation, and support for professional development and education.”

“District health boards now have the means to help overcome the serious GP shortages. Now they should follow the lead of the West Coast DHB and use it,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ENDS

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