Action to alleviate GP shortage

15 June 2007

Action to alleviate GP shortage

The College of GPs has hailed Government moves to double GP training numbers as a “serious start” to dealing to the GP shortage. Health Minister Pete Hodgson announced in Rotorua today he is to boost training numbers to more than 100 on the College’s “gold standard” Stage 1 of the General Practice Education Programme. GPEP prepares hospital-trained doctors to become specialist general practitioners.

For the first year, they work one-on-one with top GPs “This increase vindicates the constant advocacy and research the College has done to quantify the likely shortages,” acting CEO Jane Dancer said. “The Clinical Training Agency review of GP education which took place last year was a thorough exercise involving many GPs, educators and health workforce experts.

The College is very pleased that we are beginning to see some of the recommendations from that review being actioned.” Ms Dancer welcomed not only the actual training number increase, from 54 GP training places in 2006, to 69 in 2007 and now 104 in 2008 but also the Minister’s commitment to keep the numbers under review for the future.

International research reported by primary health care experts like Barbara Starfield shows a direct correlation between the numbers of primary care physicians (GPs) and the health of the population. “The more GPs the better. “Of course, trainees need to have trainers, and the GP teachers and the learning environments they manage will need to have some capacity building of their own. But we’re buzzing with the news, and looking forward to the hard work of making it happen.” Ms Dancer said.

ENDS

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