The Ministry of Health has introduced a primary care target this month requiring that more than 80% of people can access an appointment with a general practice provider within one week. Photo / 123rf

A shortage of general practitioners and long waits for appointments are forcing a rethink of how people access primary healthcare. Fin Ocheduszko-Brown reports.

The head of Whanganui Regional Health Network says that, based on the traditional model of general practitioner consultation, “we haven’t got enough doctors”.

But chief executive