Articles tagged with General Practice

Major Funding Boost for NZ GP Clinics to Improve Access and Care in 2026

5 days ago | 130 views

New Zealand’s government is providing a $120.6 million annual funding boost to local GP clinics, updating the funding formula for the first time in over 20 years to better reflect patient health needs, including factors like multimorbidity, rurality, and socioeconomic deprivation. This aims to improve timely access to primary care, especially benefiting rural communities and rewarding clinics that achieve better health outcomes in immunisations, cancer screening, and chronic conditions. The initiative seeks to keep GP visit costs stable while strengthening frontline services to keep clinics open and support community health.

Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand GP clinics Health Minister healthcare funding rural health general practice health system multimorbidity socioeconomic deprivation

New Zealand Boosts Primary Care with Overseas-Trained Doctors Program

1 month ago | 329 views

The New Zealand Government is advancing a programme to integrate overseas-trained doctors already residing in the country into the primary care workforce, with nearly half of the planned placements underway. This initiative supports international doctors in gaining registration and experience in general practice, addressing the key barrier of appointment availability for Kiwis. Alongside expanded digital and after-hours services, the programme aims to strengthen healthcare access nationwide by building a sustainable future medical workforce.

Tags: Simeon Brown New Zealand primary care workforce general practice government training programme healthcare workforce GP appointments hospital experience

Health Minister Orders Review of ManageMyHealth Cybersecurity Breach in NZ

5 months ago | 948 views

Health Minister Simeon Brown has commissioned the Ministry of Health to review the response to a ManageMyHealth cybersecurity breach involving patient information, aiming to assess causes, data protections, and recommend improvements. ManageMyHealth, a private patient portal used by some New Zealand general practices, holds sensitive medical data, prompting concerns about data security and the need for high protection standards. While the review will start by January 30, an Incident Management Team is actively coordinating the immediate response, with Health New Zealand confirming no impact on its systems and general practices continuing to operate.

Tags: Simeon Brown Ministry of Health ManageMyHealth Health New Zealand Government Chief Digital Officer National Cyber Security Centre General Practice New Zealand Incident Management Team Health Minister

Kenepuru Hospital’s New PCCT Scanner Delivers Faster, Accurate Diagnostics

7 months ago | 621 views

The new Photon Counting Computed Tomography (PCCT) scanner at Kenepuru Hospital has significantly improved diagnostic imaging by providing faster, more detailed scans that detect previously undetectable abnormalities and reduce invasive procedures. Since its operation began in October, it has increased outpatient CT activity by 37%, clarified diagnoses for 20 patients, and enabled non-invasive cardiac scans for 18 patients, leading to earlier treatment and shorter hospital stays. Plans are underway to expand these advanced diagnostic services into the community, enhancing healthcare accessibility and reducing hospital pressure for Porirua and nearby areas.

Tags: Simeon Brown Kenepuru Hospital Photon Counting Computed Tomography PCCT scanner Porirua Wellington cardiac patients diagnostic imaging healthcare general practices

New Zealand Launches Primary Care Pathway for Graduate Doctors

7 months ago | 656 views

Expressions of interest are now open for graduate doctors in New Zealand to gain hands-on experience in general practice and community-based settings, aiming to address the shortage of family doctors and increase GP numbers. The Primary Care Tactical Action Plan, funded by the Government, will allocate $23.3 million over four years to support up to 50 graduate doctors annually, with a focus on primary care placements to provide valuable community-based experience. This initiative aims to encourage early-career doctors to consider primary care as a long-term career, ultimately strengthening the health workforce and improving access to quality healthcare for all New Zealanders.

Tags: graduate doctors general practice New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown primary care GP numbers Government Budget 2025 primary care pathway