Latest GP data
The College is pleased to release the first findings of its 2017 Workforce Survey. This report, which is one of two, focuses on the demographics of New Zealand’s GP workforce – as well as looking into working arrangements and wellbeing – and the all-important area: ‘retirement intentions’.
The second report, will look at GP income, the compliance pressures on GPs, patient access issues (in particular, closed books), vacancies and unaffordable consultation costs.
This is the fourth in a series of annual workforce surveys that the College has undertaken since 2014. In total, 2572 College members participated in the survey (a 52% response rate).
This survey provides objective evidence on the GP workforce. Such evidence is crucial for robust decision making and to inform the direction of College advocacy.
The key statistics below present a snapshot of the findings. The report contains a lot of in-depth detail worth reading and understanding, in order to get a true picture of the general practice sector.
Key findings:
- Half of members who responded to the workforce survey are aged 52 or older.
- Over the next five years, 27 percent intend to retire. Over the next 10 years, 47 percent intend to retire.
- Just over half are female.
- There continues to be a disproportionately lower number of Māori and Pacific GPs.
- Half of those working rurally were trained overseas.
- Fifty-eight percent said they have a good work–life balance. Almost a quarter feel burnt out.
- Sixty-four percent provide acute after-hours general practice care.
- Three-quarters work in a practice that is owned by GPs.
- Practice ownership increases steadily with age, peaking in the 60–64 age cohort.
- Forty-one percent provide training to medical students or doctors.
- Those who provide training are more likely to be male, and we are particularly dependent on teachers in the 50–64 age cohort.