Latest news with #AngusChambers
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Health
- Scoop
Funding Hike Shows Benefit Of Collective Voice For General Practice
A potential 13 percent increase in funding for general practice shows the benefit of a strong collective voice that supports family doctors and face-to-face consultations in our communities, says GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers. The government announced today a 6.4 percent increase for general practice funding to reflect increasing costs, an uplift additional to a previously announced $95 million boost. 'Combining these would contribute a nine percent uplift in base capitation funding (with conditions) and an up to 13 percent total funding increase in the year ending June 2026, a level that is welcome and will help 'steady the ship',' says Dr Chambers. 'While not all general practice can access the $95 million, the overall increase is a marked improvement from previous years. 'It shows the Government is listening to GenPro, which called before the Budget for a minimum 10 percent increase to stabilise the viability of family doctors so they could continue to operate. 'Hon Simeon Brown is the first health minister in successive governments to have delivered a much-needed increase in funding, and we thank him for it.' However, after years of under investment by successive governments, general practice will need another 10 percent or more increase in investment next year for it to stay viable, warns Dr Chambers. 'While the increase announced today will aid retention it will do nothing to encourage recruitment of new general practitioners. This will require long-term solutions with greater support than that offered today. 'To put the funding boost into context, general practice will receive about $1.5 billion or just five percent of the $31 billion health budget. A 10 percent uplift was urgently required for 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, and more investment will be needed in later years.' Dr Chambers said the investment recognised the collective advocacy by GenPro members, who are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
GPs to get extra funding in agreement government hopes will lead to faster healthcare
Health Minister Simeon Brown Photo: Calvin Samuel / RNZ General practitioners will get up to 13.89 percent more funding this year in a new agreement the government hopes will eventually lead to faster care. Health Minister Simeon Brown said the $175 million increase this year was the biggest - by more than double - since the current funding system began. GPs had been crying out for more funding saying their sector was in crisis and doctors were leaving. They were pleased to get a boost - but noted only some of them would be able to achieve the full 13.89 percent. GPs received government funding via a capitation system - money per patient in their practice - and had been in talks with the government over the funding announced on Tuesday. One of the negotiators, Christchurch GP and GenPro chair, Angus Chambers said the boost would help. Dr Angus Chambers was pleased with the boost. Photo: Supplied "We're actually quite pleased. It's a bit conditional so there will be some people who don't do as well out of this as perhaps we need them to do but, in general, this is a reasonably significant investment, and greater than we've seen for some time. The increase to the most basic captitation funding was about 6.4 percent, he said. To earn the full 13.89 percent, GPs would have to reach a series of incentives, he said. For instance, there was an childhood immunisation boost that clinics would get if they were able to give 95 percent of babies in their care their six-week vaccinations by the time they were three months old. That would not be doable for doctors with very few babies in their practice, and could be difficult in general because of a change in attitude to vaccinations, Chambers said Another incentive relied on doctors signing up to give general, non medical-specific data to the government to help with its planning. The minister said the increase was part of the government's plan to rebuild the foundations of the health system, with primary care at the centre. "Too many New Zealanders have struggled to get care because their local GP isn't taking new patients, or the next available appointment is weeks away. "This funding boost is about turning things around," he said. Chambers said the funding would not change things instantly but brought New Zealand's funding more in line with Australia. That could help keep and attract doctors, he said. "This is like an oil tanker - it will take a long time to turn around - so this is really just a start," he said. The government broke down how the $175m would be used: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Patient Fees Could Rise 10 Percent Or More After Déjà Vu Budget Ignores General Practice
Press Release – General Practice Owners Association GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the Budget was a missed opportunity and primary healthcare is hugely disappointed once again. The General Practice Owners Association says patient fees could rise by 10 percent or more this year just to cover costs after the Budget did nothing to fix a funding and retention crisis in primary healthcare. GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the Budget was a missed opportunity and primary healthcare is hugely disappointed once again. 'The government currently puts $1.3 billion or just 4 percent of its $30 billion health budget toward general practice. A 10 percent uplift was urgently required in 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, with more investment needed in later years. It didn't happen. 'General practice will have a feeling of déjà vu after successive Budgets have failed to increase government funding to keep pace with rising costs and more complex health needs. The result is that patients are waiting longer to see a doctor, practices are closing or reducing their services, and have significant staff shortages.' On top of the 10 percent increase in funding that was needed not materialising, general practices will also have to adjust to prescription renewals being extended from three months to one year. 'Some general practices are at breaking point, and we'll forego further income due to prescription changes. The end result is that communities are at risk of losing their family doctors.' With nothing in the Budget, GenPro said its one remaining hope is that Health New Zealand uses its increase in operational funding to significantly increase funding for general practice when it makes its annual adjustment in June. 'We have to remain hopeful that Health New Zealand will use its operational budget to support general practice, although this hasn't happened in the past to the extent that is needed,' said Dr Chambers. GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Patient Fees Could Rise 10 Percent Or More After Déjà Vu Budget Ignores General Practice
The General Practice Owners Association says patient fees could rise by 10 percent or more this year just to cover costs after the Budget did nothing to fix a funding and retention crisis in primary healthcare. GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers said the Budget was a missed opportunity and primary healthcare is hugely disappointed once again. 'The government currently puts $1.3 billion or just 4 percent of its $30 billion health budget toward general practice. A 10 percent uplift was urgently required in 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, with more investment needed in later years. It didn't happen. 'General practice will have a feeling of déjà vu after successive Budgets have failed to increase government funding to keep pace with rising costs and more complex health needs. The result is that patients are waiting longer to see a doctor, practices are closing or reducing their services, and have significant staff shortages.' On top of the 10 percent increase in funding that was needed not materialising, general practices will also have to adjust to prescription renewals being extended from three months to one year. 'Some general practices are at breaking point, and we'll forego further income due to prescription changes. The end result is that communities are at risk of losing their family doctors.' With nothing in the Budget, GenPro said its one remaining hope is that Health New Zealand uses its increase in operational funding to significantly increase funding for general practice when it makes its annual adjustment in June. 'We have to remain hopeful that Health New Zealand will use its operational budget to support general practice, although this hasn't happened in the past to the extent that is needed,' said Dr Chambers. GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Urgent And After-Hours Care Support Welcome, But Budget Must Tackle GP Funding And Retention
Press Release – Genpro Looking forward, the best thing the Budget could contain is a 10 percent uplift in the governments contribution to general practice, which covers approximately half a patients consultation fee The General Practice Owners Association is welcoming a $41 million a year uplift in funding for urgent and after-hours care services and hopes the government's newly proactive approach to supporting family doctors continues in Thursday's Budget. 'The after-hours and urgent care system is under considerable stress – about 10 urgent care services closed in the last two years – so it's encouraging the government is funding improvement to urgent and after-hours care, but the devil is in the detail,' said Dr Angus Chambers, Chair of GenPro. In particular more detail is required on rural services, which are under considerable stress, and on the split in funds for five new regional services, the expansion of others, and support for those already operating. 'This $164 million injection over four years and other recent announcements by senior ministers show the government is serious about tackling the crisis in primary health care. 'Looking forward, the best thing the Budget could contain is a 10 percent uplift in the government's contribution to general practice, which covers approximately half a patient's consultation fee. 'The government's contribution has gradually fallen over the past 20 years, a period when an aging population, changing health needs, rising costs, and stretched hospitals have piled more work and cost on family doctors. 'The result is that many general practices have closed or reduced their services, GP salaries have failed to keep pace with overseas, and recruitment hasn't kept up with GPs leaving or retiring. We expect considerable upward pressure on patient fees unless there is a substantial funding boost in the Budget. 'The government currently puts $1.3 billion or just 4 percent of its $30 billion health budget toward general practice. A 10 percent uplift is urgently required in 2025/26 just to catch up and maintain existing services, with more investment needed in later years. 'General practice would also like the Budget to include progress on a new method for funding general practice to replace the current flawed 'capitation' model. 'A new model has been worked on for years by successive governments. But we're still waiting for an outcome. The need is urgent as the old model hasn't kept pace with the needs of patients and is resulting in longer waiting times to see a family doctor,' Dr Chambers said. GenPro members are owners and providers of general practices and urgent care centres throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For more information visit
