Health groups sign Memorandum of understanding

Health groups sign Memorandum of understanding

ePulse Vol 12 # 23 Special
Thursday 6 May 2010
Today Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ), the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) signed a memorandum of understanding in Wellington. The three organisations are working together on a national project to change the way general practitioners are trained and will result in the implementation of a revised vocational training programme for GPs from January 2012.

The review aims to promote general practice as a career choice among medical students and junior doctors and is likely to see more cross-over of training and working between hospitals and the community. Announcing the collaboration, Chair of Health Workforce New Zealand, Professor Des Gorman, said: “This is a very significant undertaking – one that will lay the foundation for a sustainable general practitioner workforce for many years. I am delighted that Health Workforce New Zealand, the College and the Council have agreed to collaborate in this work. By working on the strengths of the existing GP training programme, especially by linking it with the training of doctors who traditionally work in hospital settings, we expect to attract more graduates to a career in general practice.”

Co-signatories to the agreement with Professor Gorman were Dr Harry Pert, President of the RNZCGP (which will lead the educational development) and Dr John Adams, Chair of the Medical Council of New Zealand. Dr Pert said: “New Zealand GPs already undergo extensive vocational training to prepare them for a role that is increasingly diverse and demanding. We need to continue to modernise our medical education provision to ensure it meets the needs of the profession, patients and the public. We must ensure that we offer attractive and rewarding careers in general practice and that the education GPs receive offers the right mix of flexibility, skills training and opportunities for personal development.”

Dr Adams said: “As more and more healthcare is delivered outside of hospitals, we need to ensure GPs are equipped to deal with the challenges of the role. We are committed to working together and maintaining dialogue across the health system throughout the process so we develop a programme that ensures the highest standards of general practice.”

The project is led by Professor Gregor Coster, Chair of Counties Manukau DHB, member of the HWNZ board and a former Chair of the RNZCGP. The other project sponsors are Dr Tana Fishman (RNZCGP) and Dr Allan Fraser (Chair MCNZ Education Committee). It begins with a period of extensive consultation throughout the winter. “We will need to ensure that current College teachers and educators are fully consulted, as well as the groups of future trainees,” Dr Pert says.

The College looks forward to a new expanded programme which is fit for the future generalist medical workforce, and recognition that appropriate investment in the new programme will need to be made. “The MoU gives us an idea of what we will do, what we might do and what we won't do. There will be extensive consultation as we proceed and so, many of the answers are not known yet but they will emerge. This MOU is certainly good for general practice, both GPs and patients,” Dr Pert concluded.

Des Gorman and Harry Pert interviewed about the changes on Nine to Noon
http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0004/2286346/ntn-20100506-0908-General_practitioner_shortage-m048.asx

Karen Brown discusses the changes on Morning Report
http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/audio_item/0005/2286248/mnr-20100506-0728-Revamp_of_work_of_GPs_under_way-m048.asx

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