Survey of doctors’ cars

Press, 19 October 1982, Page 38

Survey of doctors’ cars

Japanese cars, rather than prestigious British and European limousines, have become popular with New Zealand doctors, according to a survey. The’ October issue of “G.P.," the journal of the General Practitioner Society, has,published the results of one of its own surveys of the society's members. Of the doctors who replied. 33 drove Mitsubishis, 29 drove Toyotas. 29 drove Fords. 26 drove Hondas, 22 drove Datsuns, 21 drove Mazdas, and 15 drove Subarus. Seven doctors said they drove a Rover, although four of these cars were at least seven years old. Another four drove Jaguars, and four more drove Triumphs, and two drove

Mercedes Benz. Eight had Peugots. four had Fiats, three had Ladas, and two had Citroens. Only one doctor drove a Mini. The survey also showed that the doctors who replied thought they should earn an average of $49,309 per annum. Most thought they should be earning more than $55,000 a year, although quite a few said they would be happy to earn between $35,000 and $50,000. A recent New Zealand Medical Association survey showed that the average income of a general practitioner was $28,707 before tax. The doctors in the survey said they worked an average of 50 hours a week, with another 69 hours on call.

Their spouses worked about 32 hours answering the telephone and doing other duties related to the practice. Doctors’ wives were also asked questions in the survey. Most of them said that the doctor was “flat out” most of the time and that family life suffered as a result of the demands of a busy practice. A lot of doctors did not get regular exercise and just about all of them suffered stress, according to their spouses. Nearly all doctors said they did not prescribe vitamin pills, did not give them to their family, and did not take vitamin pills themselves. Another article in the journal, titled “Putting doctors in their place,” says that now general practitioners know

where they stand, they will feel much more secure.

"They won't have to live up to the Jaguar image anymore. but can tootle around in an old Mini." it says. The article is accompanied by a table which shows that doctors ranked eleventh in average weekly earnings. For a 65-to-70-hdur week, the chart says, the average general practitioner earned $560. At the top of the list were some airline pilots ($1800). followed by the Chief Justice ($1680). twenty seven High Court judges ($1550), Goverment department heads ($1360 to $1400) 74 District Court judges ($1180) some town clerks ($1100) hospital matrons ($680), and senior police sergeants ($640). Not far behind the doctors was listed the deck hand? on the Cook Strait ferries ($500).