Shortage of GP's in Northland

Northland GP practices are full to the brim and some patients with urgent needs are instead going to hospital emergency departments. Chris Farrelly of Manaia Primary Health Organisation, which serves nearly 100 thousand people in Northland, says the region needs double the current number of new GP's each year to meet growing demand. Northland is again listed as one of the hard to staff communities for doctors and midwives, by the Ministry of Health. Under the Ministry's Voluntary Bonding Scheme, graduates are encouraged to work in areas like Northland, and get help to repay their student loans in return.