The Government's announcement of increased support funding for rural general practices has surprised the organisation representing rural GPs.
Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew says that from next July the country's 200 rural practices will get an extra $9 million over the following four years, on top of the $13 million a year already allocated to help maintain staffing and services.
Rural GPs Network chair Jo Scott-Jones says the extra funding has come out of the blue. They had been given the message that there was no more money to go into rural health, he says, so it's a very welcome announcement.
Dr Scott-Jones says it appears that from July the extra funding will support a new way of recruiting and retaining the workforce in rural communities, by distributing the money through local alliances of district health boards, primary health organisations and rural practices.
He says the current system of DHBs distributing funds has been inconsistent, with some general practices getting all of their rural premium funding and others none, and has gradually become unfit for purpose.
He says the new arrangement means rural practices will be more closely involved in the process, if they can find the time.
