Today I announced the largest funding boost for General Practices in New Zealand’s history – because frontline care starts with your local GP.
This Government is backing care in your local community. Our funding boost will result in GPs receiving a 13.89 per cent uplift. That brings total Government funding increases for GP clinics this financial year to $175 million.
Our funding uplift will turn around GP wait times and enable your local clinic to hire more staff and see more patients. It’s all part of our wider $1.37 billion investment into Health.
This funding will go towards:
- Improving access to GP funding appointments and reward clinics that share data to drive better care.
- Boosting childhood immunisations to make sure more babies get their six-week vaccinations on time.
- Expanding access to minor planned care procedures in the community to reduce wait times.
- Keeping GP visits affordable for low-income families, including free care for under-14s.
We know that when Kiwis can see a doctor or nurse early on at their local clinic, they’re less likely to have to go to hospital if things get worse.
This helps you and your family stay healthier and out of hospital. It backs your family doctor to see more patients, reduce wait times, and deliver faster care when you and your loved ones need it.
Delivering against targets.
More money alone is not the answer. It has to go hand-in-hand with measurable outcomes.
Childhood immunisations are a key priority for this Government. We have set a clear target to see 95 per cent of enrolled children fully immunised and we know GPs will play a critical role in achieving it.
That’s why our agreement with General Practice clinics include performance payments for clinics that lift childhood immunisation rates by up to ten percentage points, or to 95 per cent of their enrolled population, with partial payment for partial achievement.
As a result of the Government’s record increase in funding for General Practice, we expect clinics to keep costs as low as possible for patients.
Under National, we are rebuilding and strengthening the foundations of our health system, with primary care at the centre.
It’s all part of our plan to ensure all Kiwis have access to timely, quality healthcare.
Simeon Brown
Spokesperson for Health
