Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Burnout of Maori doctors to be discussed at conference

Updated at 7:02 pm on 29 August 2012

A Northland GP says a conference on keeping Maori doctors healthy is important, as some are burning out from the demands of the job as well as being community leaders.

The annual Maori Medical Practitioners' Association conference is being held in Northland for the first time since it began about 15 years ago.

Northland GP Lance O'Sullivan says a Maori doctor's workload can be strenuous as they're not just medical practitioners within their communities - they're also frequently called on for other reasons and to fill leadership roles.

About 150 health care providers will attend the conference, at Korou Kore Marae at Ahipara from Thursday to Sunday.

Northland secondary students are also invited, in an effort to encourage them to pursue a career in medicine.

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