‘I Had To Choose My Family’: Parting Words From Resigning GPs

GP advocacy group General Practitioners Aotearoa (GPA) says GPs are burning out and can’t afford to stay in practice.

In 2026, GPA data shows an uptick in GPs leaving the profession, with some moving to private practice, hospital work, overseas, or retiring early.

Most GPs are only paid for patient contact time. They do follow-ups, paperwork, referrals, prescriptions and administration in their own time.

GP is also the worst-paid medical specialty in New Zealand.

Dr Emma* has shifted to working in a hospital-based specialty.

“I left the best practice I’ve ever worked in because I was sick of the 44% unpaid work,” she says. “I don’t blame the practice or the practice manager. I blame the government for refusing to adequately fund general practice.”

She says she realised she needed to change when doing unpaid ACC and insurance paperwork for patients after hours.

“I did it while my son was asking me to play with him, and I couldn’t so I sat next to him while he built Lego. Then he announced ‘It’s my favourite part of the day that you were next to me while I played’.”

Emma says she’s tired of fighting.

“I’m over politicians and public thinking what we do is easy,” she says.

“So I quit. And I left patients I’ve had for 17 years. And I cried. And I felt I abandoned them. But I had to choose my family first and I had to choose a career where I was paid for the hours I worked.”

Emma says she is paid more for doing less in the hospital.

“The work is easier than GP and the general public don’t believe that. I don’t have to work into the evenings. Sure, I leave a bit late sometimes, but it’s nowhere near the degree of general practice.”

She says her heart is still in general practice and wants to return, but can’t be a martyr.

“You don’t see how bad it is until you’re out. It’s an abusive marriage with the government funders. They gaslight you. They prey on your care and kindness for your patients.

“There are so many like me, hiding in other jobs where we are better respected, better paid, and not flogged to death. We want to return. We just want the same conditions we get at the hospital.

“I was a really good GP. I’d like to be one again.”

Dr Robyn* is an experienced UK-trained GP with multiple clinical diplomas and additional training. She has been working in New Zealand, but is leaving GP for private work.

“Have never felt respected or valued in any practice I’ve worked in. Value isn’t appreciated; just the number of patients seen.”

Because of the lack of available gynaecologists, Robyn (like many female GPs) found herself swamped by women’s health appointments, which take longer than the allotted 15 minutes and require more unpaid follow-up work than a standard appointment.

“We need proper recognition of hours and time worked, type of patients seen, and our training and expertise,” she says. “I resent being paid the same for complex women’s health issues as someone seeing sore ears.

“And we should not be forced to partake in out-of-hours work if we cannot do it.”

Dr John* says he plans to retire early this year.

“I have only worked part time the last few years after some major medical problems and my income protection comes to an end in July.”

He said the final nail in the coffin was being required to pay for his own training to perform standard procedures.

“The increasing requirement to jump through hoops to do what I have been doing for decades has dissuaded me from continuing to work.”

Dr Sarah* has left standard general practice to work as a private doctor. She wears several hats, including lifestyle medicine work, looking after patients with chronic complex illnesses and supporting two other GPs with their inboxes.

“I got eaten up in GP work. It’s slave labour, unsupported, under-resourced and frankly under-appreciated. 15 minutes is impossible. Demands of patients are higher. The whole system is f**ked.“

*All names have been changed for privacy.

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