"Difficult": GPs still struggling with lack of staff, influx of patients

General practices around New Zealand are still overwhelmed, thanks to a shortage of doctors and a influx of patients. 

Dr John Armstrong returned to general medicine after seven years of retirement as the practice, taken over by his daughter, was overwhelmed with demand. 

With more than 6,500 patients on the books, the wait time for a routine GP visit was around four months. 

Armstrong told Kerre Woodham GPs up and down the country are doing 15-20 minute consultations, but it's difficult when you have so many patients to deal with the multitude of problems people come in with..

He says if people are on a waitlist for three or four months, they often come in with a list of issues.

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