Angus Chambers: General Practice Owners Association Chair on the proposed new Primary Health Organisation

A possible win for the General Practice Owners Association, as they take on the so-called healthcare duopoly and cost pressures. 

Their proposal for a breakaway Primary Health Organisation is gaining traction, with 116 GP practices, covering 833,000 enrolled patients, showing interest. 

If approved by Health New Zealand, it would become the country’s largest PHO, representing around 16% of total enrolments.  

General Practice Owners Association Chair Dr Angus Chambers told Heather du Plessis-Allan that there’s widespread dissatisfaction within the GP community. 

He says some of it’s because PHOs have gone off their path and are doing things that aren’t best for GPs, but they’ve also had years of underfunding and woeful workforce planning.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've got a possible win for the General Practice Owners Association.

(00:03):
They reckon they've had some really big interest from GPS
and setting up their own PHO primary health organization to
take on the big private guys. Doctor and Angers Chambers
is the chair of the General Practice Owners Association and
with us Morning Angers.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
So I was reading some we yet about one hundred
and sixteen different GP practice is interested. Can you actually
handle a number that big?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, yes, I believe we can. But of course it
is an unknown because this is a brand new organization.
So we've got a lot of experience within our network
and some good people, so I believe we can achieve
that goal.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
You would all worried that Health New Zealand won't say
yes or is it just a box ticking exercise. You
fill in the forms you send them and they go
yep off you go.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Yeah, well it's a little bit more complicated that but yes, look,
I do believe they'll approve it. I mean, I think
it's been difficult for them. They're stretched organization, they've got
trouble making decisions sometimes, but we believe we've fulfilled all
the required mons. But yes, there's a possibility they won't
approve it, but when you see the level of interest,
it would be I think brave to ignore that kind

(01:08):
of pressure from the general practice community.

Speaker 1 (01:12):
What is motivating these guys to be so interested?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, look, I think it's there's quite a few factors,
but I'd like to say number one is a kind
of a belief in our philosophies and our ability to deliver. So,
just to correct your jenfer is actually not forming a
PHR itself. It's kind of seed funded and facilitated the
forming forming of an affiliategy PHO. But look, there's there's

(01:39):
widespread satisfaction within a general practice community, and some of
it's because phos have somewhat gone off their path. We
believe and are doing things that aren't the best for
the general practices. And look, in amongst it all, we've
had years of underpanding extremely woeful workforce planning, which led
to some crisis crises that we're all well aware of.

(02:02):
I think phos are slightly wearing the heat from that
because of the general difficulties in providing a great service.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Hey, well, good luck with it, angus, and thanks for
keeping us in the loop. The Angers chambers excuse me,
Chair of the General Practice Owners Association. Lord, I should
have asked him about that while I had him as
a GP developed a cough overnight. For more from the
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