The Royal College of GPs' medical director says the latest statistics from Te Whatu Ora are grim, but they align with what he sees in practice.
The quarterly clinical performance data - released on Tuesday - shows the number of patients waiting more than four months to see a specialist has jumped 46 percent in the year from June 2022 to June 2023.
The health authority attributes the system's ongoing challenges to effects from the Covid-19 pandemic.
But GP Dr Luke Bradford says the problem may be even worse - with many patients who would benefit from secondary care not even referred.
Bradford spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
