Northlanders say the inability to get a doctor’s appointment is impacting their health and leaving them anxious to ring their medical centre. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti agrees it is difficult to get a general practice appointment and says primary health is a focus for him. The health crisis was recently highlighted with Dargaville Hospital not having doctors overnight and Northland waiting lists blowing out in key areas such as cancer treatment.
But patients say those problems start with not being able to get an appointment with their general practitioner (GP). One Whangārei woman, who spoke anonymously, said she struggles to get an appointment with her doctor for her post-traumatic stress disorder..