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Key points

This indicator measures the percentage of people who felt unable to go to a doctor in the previous 12 months, although they wanted to. General Practitioners (GPs) are part of the frontline of primary health care provision. Accessibility to a GP is an important issue in both treatment and prevention of poor health.

Data for this indicator was previously only available for major metropolitan areas such as Hamilton.  Baseline data for Waikato regional communities was collected through the 2007 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey commissioned by MARCO and Choosing Futures Waikato.  The survey was repeated in 2010.  Respondents to the 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey were asked ‘Has there been any time in the last 12 months when you or a member of your household wanted to go to a GP, but didn’t'.

• One fifth of the sample (19.7%) said there was a time in the last 12 months when they or a member of their household wanted to go to a GP, but didn’t.
• Respondents most likely to report having barriers to health care were under 35 years of age, on lower incomes, of Māori descent, and who rated their overall quality of life at a score of between 0 and 6.
• The main reported barriers were cost (7%) and availability (5%).

Respondents’ rating of barriers to accessing health care – Waikato territorial authority areas 2007

Source: 2007 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua.  The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method.  Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution

Respondents’ rating of barriers to accessing health care – Waikato territorial authority areas 2010

Source: 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua.  The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method.  Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution.