May 02, 2023
GPs struggle with burn out
National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti says GP burn out is becoming a major worry for New Zealand’s public healthcare system.
The Commonwealth Fund has released a survey which found the percentage of general practitioners under 55 years old facing burnout in New Zealand was higher than in comparable countries.
Dr Reti says while there has been a lot of focus on hospitals, when the primary care system fails it sends ripple effects throughout the health system.
“Primary care’s been struggling for a while both with numbers and also with remuneration and terms and conditions as well, so not surprising and very worrying that general practice is now saying ‘we’re struggling too and we’re starting to burn out,'” he says.
Dr Reti says there are also workforce shortages and stress in hauora Maori and in pharmacies.