The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners has made calls for the Government to urgently train more GPs as communities, particularly in rural areas such as the Waikato, feel the strain from reduced ability to see a doctor.
At the same time, the University of Waikato expressed hopes to set up a new medical school as it would inevitably result in increased medical staff for the surrounding area while they studied.
Age Concern Hamilton has also pledged its support for the call, with chief executive Gail Gilbert saying an increasing number of elderly people are requiring a traditional family GP.
"There is a real shortage of GPs. From what I understand, GPs particularly in rural areas are getting towards retirement age and there simply aren't enough new doctors being trained to replace them when they go, so for older people in rural areas that is a real big worry," said Gilbert.
At present, 57 per cent of GPs are aged over 50, with more than 40 per cent of GPs intending to retire in the next 10 years.