How accessible are physicians? Some findings and implications of the changing distribution of general practitioners in three New Zealand cities.
An understanding of the changing distribution of general practitioners within urban areas is considered necessary as a first step towards understanding the problems of developing primary care services. Both the distribution of general practitioners and the pattern of change 1966 to 1974 are analysed for three urban centres: Auckland, Wellington-Hutt and Christchurch. Results indicate that newer suburbs are less well served than either established neighbourhoods or areas of high socio-economic status. In addition, non-European areas were found to be disadvantaged. It is suggested that two particular strategies are required to promote change: (a) the development of an information system for primary care, and (b) some organisational framework within which primary care services can develop.
D005006:Ethnicity; D005194:Family Practice; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009520:New Zealand; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D000078329:Workforce