Nine-minute GP visits like conveyer belt says English

A nine-minute average doctor's consultation given in a Primary Health Organisation's business plan is not the benchmark for other organisations, a spokesman for Health Minister Annette King says.

National Party leader Bill English said yesterday that South Auckland organisation TaPasefika's plan showed GPs there were expected to see a patient every nine minutes to minimise financial risk to the organisation.

"So now we know exactly what Annette King's got in mind for the family doctor - a conveyer belt which treats people who visit the doctor like commodities on a production line," Mr English said.

Mr English's attack came just two days before Ms King is to announce six new Primary Health Organisations.

Her spokesman said yesterday: "There's no prescribed consultation time decided on by the Government. Each PHO has unique circumstances and works out its operations according to the needs of its patients."

He said the Primary Health Organisations were in their early stages and would be developing and refining their operations as they went along.

The spokesman dismissed Mr English's comments as "sour grapes from a former health minister unable to achieve anything significant in primary health care".

Primary Health Organisations were announced in March as part of the Government's $400 million boost for primary health care in the next three years.

Taxpayer subsidies for doctors' visits for children under 6 will increase under the initiative and more low income earners will qualify for community service cards, giving them access to cheaper healthcare.

The six newest Primary Health Organisations will come into effect from Wednesday, adding to the four, including TaPasefika, established this year.

The new ones include three in the greater Auckland area and one each in Hawkes Bay, Waikato and Turangi-Taupo. The idea has met a mixed response.

- NZPA




Herald feature: Health