Wednesday, 01 April 2020 09:38

COVID-19: Financial hit for Rural GPs

Written by  Peter Burke
Dr Fiona Bolden. Dr Fiona Bolden.

Many doctors in rural parts of the country are facing a cash-flow crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chair of the Rural General Practice Network Dr Fiona Bolden says that in some cases such practices have suffered a 90% drop in the cash coming across their counters.

She says with less money coming from consultations and a huge drop in ACC-related claims, some rural practices are facing a financial crisis.

“Our people still have to pay the rent and staff, and nobody wants to lay off staff, but I have heard anecdotal stories about that happening around the country,” she told Rural News.

“But those staff are going to be needed as people start to get more ill. Our people are trying to manage the anxiety and uncertainty and getting used to new ways of working,” she says.

Dr Bolden who’s on the GP’s Leaders Forum says they have approached the Ministry of Health for special assistance and some money is being made available.

Ashley Bloomfield, director general of the MOH, told media that more funding would be made available.

One of the unique problems facing rural GPs, says Dr Bolden, is the influx of people from cities and towns into small rural communities where these folks have baches and are self-isolating there.

She says this is putting huge pressure on surgeries where these people are trying to get flu immunisation and they are not registered with that medical practice.

“We are having difficulty meeting the needs of our own patients – let alone people from elsewhere. Lots of people have been doing that and the Coromandel has been badly affected as has the Lake Area in Central Otago,” she explained.

“With these people coming in from outside the district it is increasing the risk of community transmission in the local population.” 

Fiona Bolden says not only is this sudden influx of people putting pressure on medical centres, it is putting pressure on other services – such as small local shops where people can buy food. 

More like this

Covid's urban/rural divide

According to a new study from the University of Otago, there was a visible rural/urban divide in Covid-19 vaccination rates.

Covid inquiry to visit Northland

Better understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the people of Northland, and the role communities played in the pandemic response, will be the focus of a visit from the Covid-19 Inquiry, says inquiry chair Professor Tony Blakely.

Reflecting a challenging period

Damien O'Connor admits his six years in office were incredibly challenging, with Covid, droughts, floods, storms, M. bovis and volcanic eruptions to name a few.

Editorial: Time for change

OPINION: With election day only a few days away and advance voting well underway, there appears to be a mood for change in rural and provincial New Zealand.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter