The government’s recent announcements on primary care signal a welcome shift towards strengthening general practice and improving patient access. While further details are awaited regarding implementation, Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOP PHO) recognises this as a significant step forward.
Health Minister Hon Simeon Brown recently outlined several new investments aimed at enhancing timely access to general practice and strengthening the primary care workforce. These include:
- General Practice Funding Boost: A $285 million performance-based increase in funding over three years, alongside the annual capitation uplift.
- Workforce Expansion: 100 clinical placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care, and incentives to recruit up to 400 graduate registered nurses annually.
- Increased Medical Training: Additional training placements at medical schools, increasing by 25 each year (totalling 100 over four years), with up to 50 New Zealand-trained graduate doctors per year training in primary care settings.
- Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse Training Investment: $34.2 million over five years to support 120 nurse practitioner training placements annually from 2026, plus $21.6 million over four years to accelerate advanced tertiary education for up to 120 primary care registered nurses annually.
- Digital Healthcare Access: A new 24/7 digital service allowing all New Zealanders to access medical appointments online.
A promising shift, but key questions remain
These initiatives represent a clear intention to rebalance the healthcare system, ensuring general practice receives the necessary attention and resources to reduce hospital pressure and provide community-based care. WBOP PHO CEO Lindsey Webber welcomed this renewed commitment, noting, “It’s encouraging to see recognition of the critical role general practice plays in keeping people out of hospitals. Strengthening the primary care workforce and improving access is essential.”
Adequate support and resources for general practices enable them to focus on delivering quality services, which ultimately benefits the wider community. However, Webber emphasised the need for clarity: “While this announcement is positive, we await details on how initiatives such as performance-based funding will be implemented. Only then can we evaluate the genuine benefits they will offer.”
Emphasising outcomes and regional flexibility
During last week’s meeting with PHO CEOs, Minister Brown reiterated his commitment to results and patient outcomes, while maintaining flexibility regarding regional approaches. WBOP PHO believes this openness ensures local health networks can customise their strategies effectively, addressing the specific needs of their communities.
Webber highlighted this practical consideration, stating, “There’s a clear expectation that increased funding translates directly into improved patient access and outcomes. The challenge now is ensuring that implementation reflects local realities and supports long-term sustainable improvements.”
Equity considerations require clarity
While the government’s renewed focus on primary care is commendable, there has been limited explicit mention of targeted support for Māori and Pacific communities. “Maintaining and clearly articulating an equity-focused approach is critical to ensuring that healthcare improvements benefit all communities equitably. Greater clarity around equity strategies will be essential to achieving genuinely inclusive health outcomes”, highlights Kiri Peita, General Manager for Māori, Population Health and Equity at WBOP PHO.
Early engagement builds optimism
Despite the need for further detail, early and proactive engagement by the government has generated optimism within the sector. Minister Brown has met with multiple sector leaders and visited various general practices nationwide, including Tauranga. Webber concluded positively, “This early engagement demonstrates a willingness to listen and collaborate closely with those working on the frontline. It provides reassurance that primary care providers’ voices will remain influential as these initiatives unfold.”
