WellSouth Statement on Budget 2026: a missed opportunity for primary care
Statement from Andrew Swanson-Dobbs, Chief Executive, WellSouth Primary Health Network
Budget 2026 is a missed opportunity for primary care, and for the communities that depend on it most, in particular our rural people and practices.
The lion's share of new investment once again flows to hospitals and specialist services. For Otago and Southland, where rural general practice makes up more than half, that imbalance is not just a funding question, it is a matter of access. The reality is that in our geographically dispersed health district, primary care is often more accessible, frequently providing acute care. A budget like this means longer waits, longer distances, more barriers, worse outcomes.
Whether rural or urban, the continuity of care that general practice provides is hugely valuable; long-term relationships between general practice teams and patients prevent illness, manage complexity, and keep people out of hospital. The evidence is clear: every dollar invested in primary care saves between $13 and $15 in hospital costs downstream. When primary care is under-resourced, the burden shifts to secondary care with emergency departments under pressure.
We acknowledge the Community Services Card exemption from the $5 prescription co-payment as a positive step, and note the Government's commitment to 53,000 additional general practice enrolments. However, enrolments without the workforce to match them risks shifting pressure rather than relieving it. Access means nothing if no one is available to see you!
As is often the case, general practice, specifically rural general practice, is an afterthought. Yet, primary care and our GPs, NPs, nurses, managers and customer teams are at the heart of our communities.
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