Cuts to health care will impact patient access to services and care

Government walks away from table and imposes cuts on physicians.

TORONTO, May 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Today the McGuinty government turned their backs on Ontario doctors, choosing to act unilaterally to impose cuts to fees and programs rather than working with physicians to protect health care. Ontario's doctors have been warning that cuts to programs and fees will mean longer wait times, and more patients without a physician. The new President of the Ontario Medical Association Dr. Doug Weir, a Toronto child psychiatrist, called the unilateral action and cuts to health care, an appalling step from a government that committed to protect patients and negotiate fairly.

The government confirmed today what Ontario's doctors have been fearing, that they are unilaterally and retroactively imposing significant cuts to health care services and fees that will have serious consequences for patients right across the province and seriously impair the ability to recruit and retain doctors. 

In particular, Dr. Weir said cuts to services in family care, cardiac care, diagnostic services, eye care and anaesthesia services will have a negative impact on patients and communities. For example:

• Changes to diagnostic testing will impact the ability of a cardiologist to detect and treat serious heart disease and longer wait times for any type of cardiac testing;
• Just a few years ago there was a critical shortage of anaesthesiologists in Ontario which caused longer wait times for surgeries and operating room cancelations were common.  Unilateral cuts will make it difficult to recruit and retain anaesthesiologists;
• Patients in Ontario, particularly seniors will suffer from reduced access to medical care for blinding conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetes; and
• Patients will wait longer for diagnosis for commonly required radiological services like mammography and ultrasound, and there will be reduced access to radiology clinics which will push wait times for CT and MRI scans back to 1990 levels.

QUOTES

"Finally we learn the truth from the government: Protecting patient care means eliminating programs and cutting fees; a wage freeze means dramatic cuts to fees and programs; and negotiating fairly means walking away from the table and imposing cuts."

"The message from the McGuinty government to our medical graduates and doctors who might think of returning to Ontario is clear - we don't value your input in our health care system. There's no doubt that doctors will start to consider more seriously their options in other jurisdictions."

Dr. Doug Weir
President
Ontario Medical Association

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