Increasing pressure on GPs as more Kiwis are unable to access specialist care

Research from Otago University has found between 2018 and 2022, there was a 5.2 per cent increased risk of being declined per year.

General Practice New Zealand chair Bryan Betty says the problems are being pushed back on the GPs.

He says they're left managing a patient who has a problem that should be seen in secondary care, they're being forced to work out of their scope, and are having to manage patients with increased pain medication.