Are primary health care providers facing growing unmet need and case complexity; if so, does the Minister think structural changes that include integration and transdisciplinary multi-agency engagement, authority, and access to system-wide information are needed to address those?

Answer

I understand that primary care providers are facing growing complexities. Too many New Zealanders cannot get an appointment in primary care in a timely manner, and fixing this is a priority for our Government. This requires a number changes to the system, including the largest ever funding boost for GP clinics, a range of initiatives to grow the workforce and provide patients with better access to the care they need, and aligning primary care funding to patient needs - all changes that our Government is making as part of our focus on building a healthcare system that has patients at its centre.