Gps Welcome Central Role For Primary Care

Thursday, 1 February 2001

Dr Helen Rodenburg Chairperson-elect

GPs Welcome Central Role For Primary Care In Strategy

The Primary Health Care Strategy released today by the government is “generally very positive”, according to Royal NZ College of General Practitioners’ Chairperson-elect Dr Helen Rodenburg, who attended the launch today. “Primary care is absolutely essential to achieving population health goals, and this strategy recognises that.”

“The College produced its own strategy document, ‘General Practice into the Future’ in December of 1999,” Dr Rodenburg said. “Many of the recommendations in that document are reflected in the report released today, such as enrolment of patients with a health provider, population-based service provision, and the need for continuity of care. There is also a pleasing recognition of the need for information and more research.”

There are, however, some notable omissions from the Strategy. “While it talks about workforce development, there does need to be a plan to facilitate this,” Dr Rodenburg noted.

And the College is also concerned that services such as maternity, family planning, and sexual health are not included in the initial implementation, which it sees as “a recipe for continued fragmentation of service delivery, which is not in anyone’s interests”.

“It’s pleasing to note that the need for more funding for access and preventive services is acknowledged, but it will be imperative that this is reflected in additional funding in this year’s Budget,” she said.

ends

Contact: Dr Helen Rodenburg (04) 383-7647 or (021) 650-203 or: Rex Widerstrom (04) 496-5962 or (025) 549-637

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