MP questions rural GPs' Spanish meeting

The Rural General Practice Network is under fire again - this time for sending two representatives to Spain to deliver a conference address lasting less than 15 minutes.

National MP Katherine Rich raised the issue within hours of the Ministry of Health confirming it would audit the network, after it learned almost $10,000 of taxpayer money was spent on a night at the rugby.

Her concerns centre on two network representatives being sent to the WONCA (World Organisation of Family Doctors) World Rural Health Conference, in September 2003.

"By my calculation, the network's direct public contribution was about 12 minutes of presentation, so I'll write to the minister about that," she said.

The network's paper, "Dogs, Quads, and Locums - NZ Locums at Work" - was delivered by P. McNeill and M. London, and was one of 15 oral presentations delivered within 90 minutes.

Mrs Rich was not sure of the precise cost, but was led to believe it was "many thousands of dollars".

The ministry said it was taking further action after the $10,000 night at the rugby.

"The ministry has advised the network that it will be conducting a financial audit of expenditure of Ministry of Health contract funding by the Network," district health board funding and performance, deputy director-general Anthony Hill said.

"The ministry has also advised it will be conducting a compliance audit of performance under those contracts."

Network chairman Dr Tim Malloy said he had no concerns about the audits and was confident the ministry would be satisfied with what it found.

He declined to comment about the WONCA conference.

The night at the rugby was unearthed by Mrs Rich and confirmed by Minister of Health Pete Hodgson in reply to a written parliamentary question.

Mr Hodgson said $9672.29 was spent on 10 tickets to a function at the All Blacks versus England rugby test, in Wellington, on June 14, 2003.

The spending was listed under sponsorship in the network's audited financial report.

The network had since accepted the use of state funding for the tickets was "inappropriate" and agreed to reimburse the ministry.

The ministry audits will be done in the new year.

- NZPA