May 22, 2017
Doctor shortage hitting south Taranaki
Te Runanga O Ngati Ruanui wants more than words from the Taranaki District Health Board and the Midlands Primary Health Organisation to tackle a chronic shortage of doctors in the region.
South Taranaki has 26.9 full-time equivalent GPs per 100,000 people, compared with a national average of 69.8.
Ngati Ruanui kaiarataki Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the iwi tried to plug the gap by taking over the community funded one-stop health shop in 2013, and the number of patient numbers it serves has doubled to 6600.
But she says there has been no real support from the DHB or Midland.
The Royal New Zealand College expects 41 per cent of GPs to retire by 2025, so innovative strategies to recuit and retain doctors are needed.
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