1 May 2023
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall Minister of Health Freepost PO Box 18888Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160
Via email: a.verrall@ministers.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Minister
Thank you for making time in your busy schedule to attend the General Practice Leaders’ Forum (GPLF) meeting on 27 April We appreciate your acknowledgement of the overarching sentiment of despair and frustration expressed by the GPLF. You expressed willingness to actively address language, engagement, and representation issues in Te Whatu Ora’s current engagement with general practice. You indicated the importance of meaningful engagement with general practice in strategy making and policy formulation processes as being essential.
As you have progressed to better understanding the complexities and issues facing our sector, you have received repeated feedback of despondency. A major contributor is the lack of meaningful engagement from Te Whatu Ora with the sector. Recent examples include:
o Tuesday’s announcement on equity funding – with no prior engagement with general practice on the planning, delivery and potential impact of this policy
o The NZ Health Plan – GPLF have no visibility or involvement in the formulation of the Plan that will have a direct impact on the sector for the next 10 years
o Capitation Review – despite GPLF confirming our willingness to not only get back around the table, but to commence the co-design of a replacement funding mechanism, there is no progress. Indeed the Equity announcement from Tuesday is an example of new funding elements being decided outside of the recognised mechanism for negotiation with the sector
o The various Workforce Taskforces – we are concerned at the lack of engagement and any genuine attempt at co-design on the biggest issue facing our sector – Workforce
GPLF is united in our belief that a strategic plan for the long term ‘delivery’ of medical care in the community and workforce sustainability are critical for us to be able to safely and competently provide primary health care.
We seek your assistance in driving an immediate and sustained improvement to positive and meaningful engagement from Te Whatu Ora in planning for the sector
We would also like to see urgency applied to an extension of full pay parity funding to all primary care nurses working in general practice. The evidence has been provided, yet the sector is disbelieved and subject to yet more surveys to collect data that is readily available.
Finally, GPLF reiterates its desire to be part of the solution. Improving equity and patient outcomes is our reason for being, and we are willing and able to contribute to this important mahi.
Ngā mihi Dr Samantha Murton Chair