Teamwork driving force behind general practices

When questioned about their most significant challenges, nearly every general practice I interviewed this year cited the same issue: “workforce”.

Only two – St Heliers Medical in Auckland and Kaikōura Healthcare – counted themselves fortunate on the workforce front. However, they were not strangers to the sector’s recruitment and retention issues. 

Kaikōura Healthcare specialist GP and co-owner Chris Henry says the practice has been short-staffed before and worked hard to get out of it.  

“We’ve had every stage here from managing with just two to three GPs for a few years. But then we got some momentum.” 

In Whangārei, Onerahi Family Healthcare co-owner OmniHealth found a doctor from the US via its investor company Sanford Health because the practice couldn’t get a GP locally. 

And if not GPs, it is a shortage of nurses: “Our nurses work so hard, but there’s just no pay parity. We can’t keep up with inflation,” says practice manager Morgan Theologidis.

Staff in small rural practices, like Methven Medical Centre in South Canterbury, must move between roles to provide a broader range of services and manage staff shortages, says specialist GP and co-owner Gayle O’Duffy. 

“Every practice, especially every rural practice, is on a knife edge for staffing. When we lose one, everyone struggles and replacing them is not easy.” 

A report of staff shortages in primary care will not be new to anyone involved in the health sector – in my nearly five years writing about health, it has been a persistent theme. 

But what strikes me the most is that all 15 of the practices profiled illustrate the passion and power of the team – to provide for their community, even when faced with insurmountable odds. 

That’s even if it means working on the smell of an oily rag. After seeing people forced to choose between paying for a GP appointment or food for their whānau, Raglan Medical brought healthcare to its community. With no extra funding or staff, it partnered with community health service Te Toi Ora ki Whaingaroa, setting up clinics at two local marae last November.

Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki, a kaupapa Māori organisation, has eight clinical staff members to provide healthcare across five clinics in Thames, Coromandel, Paeroa, Te Aroha and Whitianga. 

Despite the need for more staff across these practices, the teams make it work anyway, even if it means travelling from general practice to general practice all week. 

The team is always ready to step up, says clinical director and specialist GP Martin Mikaere. 

“It’s encouraging that people are willing to put that much of their own backbone into something...We have people whose heart and soul are behind helping these people, my people.” 

Recent innovations at Three Rivers Medical in Gisborne, including changing the practice’s opening hours and setting up a telehealth hub, injected a major boost to morale in a team that was burning out following Cyclone Gabrielle.

General manager Michelle Te Kira couldn’t ask for a better team: “We know we can do better. We’re not doing everything perfect, but by God, we’re doing everything in our power.” 

These profiles underscore the ongoing, challenging staffing situation in primary care, emphasising the urgent need for solutions. But, if there is a silver lining, it must be what an immense privilege it is to share the stories of these extraordinary teams doing extraordinary things. I’m looking forward to hearing many more in 2024.

Zahra Shahtahmasebi is an Auckland journalist