11 December 2024

GPs thriving 18 years on, the results of our Sizzling Summer Survey, sage advice on finding joy when it feels elusive – this issue balances the heavy with the hopeful. Because even in tough times, writes Barbara Fountain, the glass can be half full (with room for a refill in 2025)

Every issue of New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa highlights a member of the general practice team, whom we have persuaded to share a “few words” about their life – their loves, loathes and things we may not have guessed about them. And every year we round up a few of those key findings for our Summer Edition. First up are two Few Words folk who both trained abroad before landing in New Zealand – GP Thomas Cartier, who trained in France, and nurse Marryllyn Donaldson, who is from the UK

With messages of support, a large donation and even a load of sausages – the northwest Auckland community of Kumeū swung in behind a financially troubled general practice

Barista buff and specialist GP David Chou believes great coffee and a great team make for a happy workplace

Some GP registrars who applied for 2024’s voluntary bonding scheme have already signed contracts for other jobs in lieu of hearing back from Te Whatu Ora

Tū Ora Compass Health has filed a complaint against Te Whatu Ora with the Health and Disability Commissioner over the ailing GP2GP system. The system allows for the transfer of patient records between practices and is used to move thousands of files annually

A programme encouraging highschool-aged students to pursue careers in rural health, co-run by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, will have its contract with Te Whatu Ora cut at the end of 2024

PHOs are being urged to do all they can to pass on primary care funding as practice owners eye up financial reserves disclosed in 2024 annual reports

Phase one of Te Tira Ārai Urutā the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons Learned was released late last month. Reporter Alan Perrott sat down with inquiry chair Tony Blakely ahead of the release

The long-awaited Therapeutic Products Act looks set to be repealed – before it even came into force. Deputy editor Patrice Dougan delves into the Government’s proposed replacement