The government has announced $1 million for a Rural GP Training Fund, aimed at helping rural GPs deliver more planned care procedures in their own communities.

The fund covers not just training costs but travel to access that training and backfill costs while GPs are away, says Matt Doocey, Associate Minister of Health. Doocey says the backfill component is deliberate. When rural GPs leave for training, it reduces care available locally, and the fund is designed to prevent that.

“Wellington doesn’t know best, especially when it’s talking about rural communities.

“That’s why we’ve tagged this fund specifically for rural GPs.”

The focus on planned care means procedures such as skin lesion removal, which rural patients currently travel long distances to access, could be carried out at their local practice once their GP is trained, he says.

The announcement was made at the World Rural Health Conference (WRHC), held in Wellington, the first time the event has been hosted in New Zealand. Doocey says the conference drew more than 1,000 delegates from around the world.

The government is reviewing the way GP practices are funded for the first time in roughly 20 to 30 years, Doocey says. Rurality will be a criterion for capitation funding for the first time.

“I think that will be quite a game changer.”

The government has set a target for 98% of New Zealanders to be able to access after-hours care within one hour, including in 70 remote and rural areas, Doocey says. Six pilot sites have been rolled out, with each community working out what that looks like locally, he says.

Rural training hubs are being opened so new graduates can move directly into rural primary care from their training institutions.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.