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15-minute consults causing more delays for patients, say GPs

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2025

Patients will continue to face long wait times unless the government looks at changing the 15-minute consult, some GPs say.

The government recently announced changes to the health system to tackle wait times – including an extra 100 placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care.

But some GPs told First Up a key part of the problem was the 15-minute appointment, which was not long enough to complete a consult and do all the administrative work involved.

Data from Stats NZ shows one in four Kiwis do not visit the GP because it takes too long to get an appointment.

Dr Karl Cole works as a GP at Papatoetoe Family Doctors in Auckland. On a typical day he sees up to 30 patients and had hundreds of messages in his inbox.

After each 15-minute appointment, Cole is expected to fill in multiple forms.

“There’s all these hoops to jump through,” he said.

“Each form is done in different technology, done with different ways of authenticating. You basically need to do a degree in understanding which process [is] needed for which situation.”

These forms were not easy to access. He said demand has skyrocketed over the past few years .

“There’s been like a fivefold increase in inbox messages coming in. Six years ago I got 30,000 messages a year, and just on another order, it’s 150,000 this year.”

Cole said most GPs would be doing several hours each day to catch up on the admin.

When seeing a new patient, he said 15 minutes was not enough to study their history, discuss symptoms and fill in paperwork.

“The 15 minutes can be a terrifying, 15 minutes when it’s a new patient who might be 70, who’s got 16 medications, who’s got a new kind of symptom. You just can’t do it.”

Dr Sam King also worked at Papatoetoe Health Hub. She also said sometimes patients needed longer appointments, especially where there were language barriers and multiple health issues.

“For some patients, 15 [minutes] is not enough and you’re talking about multi issues and difficult histories, people with poor health, literacy, people with English as a second language – all of those things mean it’s very difficult.”

That – combined with the admin work – meant regular patients faced long waits for a routine visit. By the time people got to see their GP, they had a laundry list of symptoms.

“Part of the issue is that because people can’t get appointments when they want, when they come, they have a list. And it’s that we really struggle with,” Dr King said. “I think if you definitely, if you increase funding then we can stretch out the 15-minute appointments.”

In July, the government increased general practice capitation funding by 4 percent. That was despite warnings from the primary care sector that a double-digit increase was needed.

From July this year, the government was adding a $285 million boost, delivered over three years. But that funding is performance-based.

In a statement, Health Minister Simeon Brown said it gave GPs flexibility when it comes to the 15-minute consult.

“This funding is in addition to the capitation funding increase that general practice receives annually to account for population changes.

“One of the advantages of capitation is that it gives GPs flexibility about how they meet the needs of their patients – they are not tied to delivering 15-minute appointments. They also have flexibility in the workforce they use.”

The government was also adding 100 placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care.

Dr Brigit Holzinger trained and practised in Europe for 10 years before moving here in 2023. She now practised in Tauranga, and believed New Zealand needed to focus more on preventative care.

“I think the biggest problem, at least the one that I can see from my perspective, is basically funding and I just feel like that’s a little overlooked here in New Zealand and it’s more acute care, but not really preventative care, which we should be focusing on a lot more.”

The government also announced a 24/7 telehealth service – which means patients needing urgent care can access video consults with GPs and Nurse nurse practitioners. But King said that could compound the problems they faced.

“A lot of GPs are wanting to move to the telehealth services simply because it’s easier, it’s faster. You deal with the minor issues, which means that all the complex patients and usually their elderly end up in front of the GP and they are never the 15-minute consultation.

“So you’re compounding the problem by just pushing more doctors into the telehealth realm, and I think it’s a little short-sighted.”

A study published by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practioners in March looked at primary healthcare funding data from 2009 to 2023. It highlighted the need for greater financial prioritisation of primary healthcare in New Zealand.

The report recommended routine monitoring of primary healthcare funding as a proportion of the total health budget and establishing a minimum allocation.

rnz

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz