29/062010....Media release from Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson

Minister of Health Tony Ryall today denied claims by the Rural General Practitioner Network that increasing numbers of GPs are leaving the country, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

"Today the Rural General Practitioner Network spoke out on concerns it holds regarding significant numbers of doctors leaving rural general practice in New Zealand and heading for Australia," Ruth Dyson said.

"The Minister of Health was warned last year that the Australian Government was introducing measures that would make it easier for New Zealand trained GPs to work in that country, yet he has done little about it.

"Today the Rural General Practitioner Network has reported that over the past six months in particular Australian practices have been aggressively recruiting for New Zealand trained doctors and that this is having a significant impact on rural practices.

"Given the Minister of Health said he would be actively engaging with clinicians it seems strange that when questioned today about rural GP shortages and GPs leaving for Australia that he didn't appear to have any knowledge of it.

"In fact the Minister claimed that Australian recruitment campaigns for New Zealand GPs were having very little impact. However, the Rural General Practitioner Network has made it clear that changes in Australia are having a significant impact in this country.

"Does the Minister not even know what is happening in his own portfolio? Because according to the Rural General Practitioner Network at least 59 practices currently have vacancies for doctors.

"Tony Ryall needs to drop the arrogant attitude that has seen him describe cuts to patient services as 'changes' and now sees him unable to recognise the obvious fact that GPs are heading offshore for Australia under his watch.

"Rural health services are already vulnerable and they deserve better than a Minister who is turning a blind eye to issues like rural GP retention," Ruth Dyson said.