Community doctors and nurses are calling for urgent action on funding 'after hours' care.
The Independent Practitioners Association Council (Ipac) said today that whoever wins the next election must provide more money for the service to ensure patient access.
It said a recent Ministry of Health survey foundafter hours charges in many regions was more than $45 for children and $65 for adults.
Government funding for primary health care did not acknowledge or include the cost of after hours services and Ipac was concerned about the impact that was having on patient access, chairwoman Bev O'Keefe said.
She said the Government had not listened to doctors' suggestions about funding requirements to support a full spectrum of primary health services including after hours care.
"There is an urgent need for a consistent national funding system to ensure availability of after hours services.
"The problem is particularly acute in rural areas but general practices in all regions are struggling to provide affordable access and many families face high fees for middle-of-the-night care for themselves or their children."
Dr O'Keefe said the Government had moved to subsidise day-time doctor visits but had ignored adequate funding for after hours care.
Ipac released a "General Practice election manifesto" today, aimed at improving access to general practice.
"There has been a breakdown in trust between general practice and the Government - we urgently need to rebuild the relationship so that key access and funding issues can be properly discussed and addressed," Dr O'Keefe said.
The manifesto called for:
* urgent new funding for after hours services;
* targeted support for those on low or assisted incomes;
* training for more doctors and nurses to cover a looming workforce crisis; and
* the establishment of a General Practice Advisory Board reporting direct to the Minister of Health to rebuild the relationship with primary care providers.
"The current funding system is not keeping pace with costs and General Practices are struggling to provide affordable services," Dr O'Keefe said.
"If nothing changes under the next Government, patients will wait longer and pay more for everyday health care."
