Dr Adrian Hindes’ concern comes as Health NZ (HNZ) is asking for expressions of interest to ensure "98% of New Zealanders can access urgent care within one hour’s drive of their home".
He felt the proposal ignored some of the fundamental issues associated with operating after-hours care.
"There is increasing frustration with having to provide after-hours care while facing increasing challenges with day-to-day general practice."
Growing patient numbers, complexity of health problems and difficulty accessing secondary healthcare through the hospital were all long-standing problems, he said.
"These problems were compounded by chronic underfunding of general practice and poor pay at Urgent Doctors. Many GPs are no longer prepared to do after-hours at all."
After-hours services in the city have been stretched due to lack of resources - Dunedin Urgent Doctors and Accident Centre (Dudac) reduced its operating hours recently, while some other GPs pulled out of offering after-hours services to the local guild because of time pressure.
Dr Hindes said nine Dunedin practices issued notices to withdraw from Urgent Doctors several months ago.
The reasons for doing so varied between practices.
HNZ gave Dudac an extra $1 million "lifeline" that allowed GPs to be paid market rates for after-hours care.
This would attract GPs who viewed it as a more attractive employment option than general practice to pick up extra shifts, Dr Hindes said.
"A similar thing is happening with telehealth. However, many practices are already unable to accommodate routine appointments in a timely manner, with waiting times more than a month.
"Putting more money into after-hours care doesn’t create more doctors. It just moves doctors from one part of the health system to another."
It is expected the after-hours service trial will begin in December. The contract for the initial provider will last until 2027.
But Dr Hindes said he was sceptical the service could be provided on time.
"If it succeeds it will be at the expense of general practice in Dunedin. If it doesn’t, it will be a continuation of the same problems that Urgent Doctors has experienced for years.
"I’d be happy to be proved wrong, but I’ve been working in health for over 25 years."
Rachael Pearce, the co-director for rural health at Health New Zealand, said the new service was intended to build on existing general practice and grow after-hours and urgent care capacity and access.
"It is not designed to replace comprehensive general practice or continuity-based care."
Ms Pearce said the new service would improve access to timely care, particularly for people who might struggle to see a regular general practice.
An open tender process is currently under way, allowing a range of providers to propose how they would deliver the service.
Tenders close at the end of this week.
The new service is planned to open by December 2025.
