By TONY GEE, NZPA
KAITAIA - The Far North wants the Government to develop a package aimed at attracting more GPs into rural areas.
Kaitaia, with a population of 5500 and a medical and health catchment area of another 20,000 people, is losing three of the four doctors in its biggest medical practice, leading to its likely closure in March.
The northern Far North will then be left with only five doctors to care for 25,000 people.
Yesterday, doctors, other health professionals and local body leaders at a meeting in Kaitaia decided to seek Government involvement to try to overcome the looming GP crisis.
The meeting was called by the Te Tai Tokerau MP, Dover Samuels.
Millie Srhoj, chairman of the Kaitaia-based Northern Community Board, said those at the meeting thought the Government had to consider some package to make it worthwhile for doctors to practise in rural areas such as Kaitaia.
One local doctor suggested that Kaitaia GPs and other health service providers should form a trust to incorporate all the area's health services under one umbrella.
Mr Samuels is scheduled to meet Health Minister Annette King today in Wellington to discuss solutions.
Meanwhile, Northland Health's Kaitaia area coordinator, Donna Mayes, says work on a proposal to bring GPs onsite at the Kaitaia Hospital wilL be speeded up.
She says Northland Health has been talking to the GPs about the proposal for the past year.
Govt help sought to solve GP crisis
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