Cost cutting affecting care, FPs warn

Almost 90% of family physicians think delays and difficulties in getting access to necessary health care are putting patients at risk, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) says. In a news release, the CFPC said 82% of FPs responding to a mail-in survey reported that they are spending more time than they did 5 years ago trying to win access to care for their patients. Almost 40% spend 3 hours or more a week fighting for care, and 62% of respondents reported problems finding community-based services once patients are discharged from hospitals.

"This is a wake-up call for every Canadian," said Dr. Jean-Pierre Despins, the CFPC president. "Government cost cutting is beginning to be measured in terms of its effects on the quality of patient care. . . . More and more family physicians are assuming the role of patient advocate, fighting on behalf of their patients to help them gain access to the care they need." The health care system, he said, "has reached a breaking point."

| CMAJ June 15, 1996 (vol 154, no 12) |