Salaried Employment Of GPs Would Help Primary Care

ATTENTION: HEALTH REPORTER NO. OF PAGES: 1

MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

MONDAY 18 DECEMBER 2000

“SALARIED EMPLOYMENT OF GPS WOULD HELP PRIMARY HEALTH CARE; DEBATE ENCOURAGED”

“Salaried employment of GPs by the new district health boards would help the proposed move towards fully funded primary health care,” said Mr Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, today.
“The overwhelming majority of GPs operate as small businesses but salaried employment is another viable alternative. We are aware that many GPs are frustrated over running their businesses. Salaried employment would create more opportunities that they currently struggle to get including medical education leave, professional development resources and annual leave. Further there would be stronger negotiating rights for collective employment conditions.”
“Two important advantages of salaried employment are the elimination of the need for patient co-payments that serve as an obstacle to access to primary health care and better integration with the work of hospital based doctors.”
“Voluntary salaried employment of GPs could first be attempted in areas where there are difficulties over access to GPs, where there are shortages of GPs and where GPs wish to change. However, it could only succeed if it is voluntary. Compulsion would be the kiss of death.”
“Debate over salaried employment of GPs should be encouraged as one of the most effective means of achieving the goal of fully funded primary care,” concluded Mr Powell.

Ian Powell
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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