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# Three Months to See a Doctor?
- URL: https://goodoil.news/three-months-to-see-a-doctor/
- Published: 2025-11-04T21:30:47.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-04T21:30:46.000Z
- Description: Our health system is failing Kiwis.
- Author: Reproduced with permission
- Tags: NZ Politics, Health

[**Matua Kahurangi**](https://matuakahurangi.com/p/three-months-to-see-a-doctor-our?ref=goodoil.news)  
*Just a bloke sharing thoughts on New Zealand and the world beyond. No fluff, just honest takes.*

Yesterday I shared the first of my Subscriber Stories, where KC\* recounted a shocking experience at Waikato Hospital after being rushed there by ambulance. You can read the full story here:

[Subscriber Stories: Emergency care or waiting room farce?](https://matuakahurangi.com/p/emergency-care-or-waiting-room-farce?ref=goodoil.news)[Matua Kahurangi](https://substack.com/profile/315630946-matua-kahurangi?ref=goodoil.news) 1 Nov[](https://matuakahurangi.com/p/emergency-care-or-waiting-room-farce?ref=goodoil.news)

[Read full story](https://matuakahurangi.com/p/emergency-care-or-waiting-room-farce?ref=goodoil.news)

One of my followers on X responded to the story with a comment that stopped me in my tracks. He wrote that when trying to book a routine appointment with his doctor online, the first available slot was **three months away**. He added that he could try phoning for a cancellation, but it highlighted a severe lack of capacity in the system.

I was sceptical. Surely that could not be true? I asked him to provide a redacted screenshot of the earliest appointment, and he did. The first available slot shown was **20 February 2026**. Now, I cannot verify whether there were earlier cancellations, but this subscriber has been active and trustworthy online. There is no reason to doubt him. His screenshot is below.

![Image](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!F7PP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff079489d-56dd-4969-9153-188f8ddc2c36_2212x579.jpeg "Image")

Stories like this are becoming all too common. Waiting three months for a routine doctor’s appointment is unacceptable. Even a two-week wait can feel unbearable when you are sick or anxious about your health.

I dread to think what would happen if Labour returned to government and implemented their promise of three free doctor visits per year. People would likely be booking those check-ups in advance, putting even more strain on already stretched GP practices nationwide.

Our health system is failing ordinary Kiwis. If we cannot see a doctor when we need to, free visits will not make a difference. They will just create longer lines, more stress, and worse outcomes for everyone. Something has to change and it cannot wait three months.

This article was originally published on the [author’s Substack](https://matuakahurangi.com/p/three-months-to-see-a-doctor-our?ref=goodoil.news).