In a year of multiple weather events, including two cyclones, primary care successfully scrambled to serve its communities despite power blackouts and flooding. Deputy editor Patrice Dougan looks at the lessons to be learned ahead of the next disaster
A case has shown that healthcare providers are liable for the mistakes of their contractors or partners. Is it a nonsense that disadvantages general practices or a business reality? Martin Johnson reports
GPs keen to see urgent action on workforce and funding can now see a plan, but it’s a plan to do the policy work for a plan – and it has been slated. Changes can still be made in the short term but these will be in the existing funding settings, as Stephen Forbes reports
Porirua Union and Community Health Services has closed its books for the first time in its history and specialist GP Lilani Weerakkody is feeling plenty of guilt over her part in the problem
An outpouring of despair about the future of general practice in New Zealand, and an admission to the lure of higher Australian pay rates, has been unleashed by an official’s comments in a Te Whatu Ora webinar
Funders have told primary care leaders that national contracts will be rising by 5 per cent in the coming year. Reporter Fiona Cassie takes a closer look at the sums
Martin Johnston reports on the markers of stress in general practice, where the feeling of failing to cope is palpable and Fiona Cassie spent hours searching for data to explain why general practice finds itself working so hard but ultimately often failing to live up to its own expectations of good care
Specialist GP Nikki Vadgama provides some tips to make your next paediatric eczema consult easier. She includes a review of new guidelines, resources, websites and medications for paediatric eczema management