NZ study reveals specialist gap grows - so what do we do?

A recent study by the Centre for Health Systems and Technology (CHeST) at the University of Otago, commissioned by General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ), has revealed the urgent need to address unmet healthcare needs and variations in referral declined rates in Aotearoa New Zealand. ​ 

The study highlights the challenges faced by patients and healthcare professionals in accessing necessary specialist services. Despite a consistent volume of referrals by GPs to public hospital specialists, there has been a decline in access to referred specialist services. ​ 

This decline poses significant implications for equity and national consistency in healthcare access. This is yet another indication of a system under immense pressure. It highlights that issues accessing primary care do not always sit within primary care’s control as our GPs are left holding more complex patients without the ability to access definitive treatment. 

A broken healthcare system is leaving patients with unmet needs and GPs holding the bag - we need a holistic approach to ensure everyone gets the care they deserve. In a system already under strain, what do we do? Until we shift our focus to look at the system as a whole rather than primary and secondary care we won’t fix these issues – merely move them from place to place. 

Justin Butcher
Kaiwhakatere (CEO), Pinnacle