College welcomes concept of training in community

Media release

In response to Government release of report from medical workforce taskforce

The College of GPs welcomes the positive recommendations in the Workforce Taskforce report and looks forward to working with the Ministers as they establish the new Medical Training Board.

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners provides vocational training for GPs and President Dr Jonathan Fox said he was very pleased with the concept of doctor training moving more into the community.

“We have been advocating strongly for an increase in training numbers, and the signaling of a likely tripling of registrar numbers vindicates our submissions.”

An earlier increase for this year from the Minister of Health means 69 CTA-funded GP registrars will go through the College’s “gold standard” programme this year, compared to 54 in 2006, and the College anticipates more than 200 will sit the general practice vocational entrance exam, Primex, later this year – a 30 percent increase.

“The emphasis on vocational registration, on the DHB involvement in education and training is also pleasing,” Dr Fox said. Equally important is the commitment to ongoing self-sufficiency for the medical workforce.

“We like the call to action, and we’re ready to help.”

ENDS

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