Katikati Medical Centre Closes Books to New Patients

Katikati Medical Centre has joined roughly a third of general practices nationwide in closing its books to new patients, citing chronic underfunding and dangerously long wait times. Clinical director Dr Vicky Jones said routine appointment waits had stretched to six weeks — a situation she described as unacceptable and potentially harmful to patients who might delay seeking care or simply give up trying to enrol.

Dr Jones said the root cause was a lack of government investment in general practice over many years, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff. GPs are funded through capitation payments and patient co-payments, but Jones argued these fall well short of what colleagues in hospital settings or across the Tasman receive. Many GPs around the country are quietly reducing their hours or shifting into niche private roles as a result.

The 15-minute standard consultation block is another pressure point, Jones noted — far too short to manage complex patients, follow up on labs and referrals, and handle the heavy administrative load of forms, prescriptions and correspondence. She said high levels of burnout among GPs were a direct consequence of these conditions.

Last year the Government increased capitation funding by 4%, which Jones said was welcome but fell well short of what was needed. She stressed the centre's decision was not taken lightly: "We worry that people will have important diagnoses delayed or simply not come because it just feels too hard — especially if they can't even enrol. We are very frustrated."

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).