GPs overstressed and ageing fast

A stressed and ageing general practitioner workforce is pointing to an alarming future for primary healthcare in New Zealand, a leading doctor says.

Figures released early today by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners show the mean age of GPs has increased six years in the past eight years, from 42 to 48.

The figures were taken from a survey sent to all members of the college and had a response rate of 60 per cent (2057 members).

College president Jonathan Fox said other health professionals were reporting the same trends. He said it was an issue that desperately needed addressing and increasing Government bureaucracy was not helping.

"At a time we're being asked to work smarter and change to incorporate new strategies from the Government, our members are reporting rising stress levels and extra hours just to deal with the bureaucracy and compliance demands," Dr Fox said.

"We need action now. It takes at least 12 years to train a GP."

He said the survey revealed a stressed and diminishing general practice workforce ageing faster than it was being replenished.

New Zealand relied heavily on overseas-trained doctors and had to compete in a global market for a medical workforce.

"Yet there are still funding barriers against training our own graduates," Dr Fox said.

In the last two years the college had received more than double the number of applications for the 54 funded places on its training programme.

Scholarships aimed at encouraging Maori and Pacific Island doctors into general practice were stopped by the Government this year for 2006.

"Maori and Pacific Island populations suffer an increasing health risk, yet these populations are proportionately under-represented in the GP workforce."

The survey showed that on average, male GPs worked 54.8 hours a week and women worked 38.9.

Dr Fox said the population of New Zealand was growing, ageing and becoming more ethnically diverse, and based on current assessment of health needs, the changes would impact directly on primary care and the work of general practitioners.

"We must stop the numbers drain now, or in 10 years the problem may be insoluble."

Medical history

* The mean age of GPs is now 48, an increase of six years from a 1997 survey.

* It takes 12 years to train a GP, says their professional body.

* Male GPs work 54.8 hours a week, women work 38.9 hours.

(Source: Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners)

- NZPA