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06-23-2006, 06:58 AM
1 in 10 Ont. doctors accepting new patients: study
CTV.ca News Staff
It's harder than ever before to find an Ontario family doctor accepting new patients, according to a new study.
The number of family physicians taking new patients fell by nearly 30 per cent since 2000, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario announced Thursday.
"We are alarmed to find that only 11.4 per cent of family physicians are accepting new patients into their family practices," College President Dale Mercer said in a press release.
The 2005 survey found that Toronto has the highest percentage of doctors accepting new patients at 21.7 per cent. The lowest new patient averages were in eastern and southwestern Ontario at 4.7 and 4.5 per cent.
Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman disputed the findings, saying that the numbers were misleading.
He argues that the survey comes after the government made a deal with Ontario doctors to accept more new patients.
"So it should come as no surprise that fewer doctors are taking patients at the end of 2005 than they were at the beginning of 2004," Smitherman said.
"Because in that time period, we had an agreement with Ontario's doctors that has resulted in at least a few hundred thousand additional Ontarians actually having a family doctor and that's what those numbers reflect."
After surveying 27,000 physicians, which accounts for 98 per cent of those licensed in the province, the study also found that a large proportion of the medical community is approaching retirement.
The average age of practicing physicians is now 51.7 years of age.
"While much progress has been made increasing the number of physicians entering the system each year," Mercer said. "It is clear that the government and other key stakeholders, including the College, must continue to focus their efforts on finding creative solutions to health human resources issues for the foreseeable future."
CTV.ca News Staff
It's harder than ever before to find an Ontario family doctor accepting new patients, according to a new study.
The number of family physicians taking new patients fell by nearly 30 per cent since 2000, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario announced Thursday.
"We are alarmed to find that only 11.4 per cent of family physicians are accepting new patients into their family practices," College President Dale Mercer said in a press release.
The 2005 survey found that Toronto has the highest percentage of doctors accepting new patients at 21.7 per cent. The lowest new patient averages were in eastern and southwestern Ontario at 4.7 and 4.5 per cent.
Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman disputed the findings, saying that the numbers were misleading.
He argues that the survey comes after the government made a deal with Ontario doctors to accept more new patients.
"So it should come as no surprise that fewer doctors are taking patients at the end of 2005 than they were at the beginning of 2004," Smitherman said.
"Because in that time period, we had an agreement with Ontario's doctors that has resulted in at least a few hundred thousand additional Ontarians actually having a family doctor and that's what those numbers reflect."
After surveying 27,000 physicians, which accounts for 98 per cent of those licensed in the province, the study also found that a large proportion of the medical community is approaching retirement.
The average age of practicing physicians is now 51.7 years of age.
"While much progress has been made increasing the number of physicians entering the system each year," Mercer said. "It is clear that the government and other key stakeholders, including the College, must continue to focus their efforts on finding creative solutions to health human resources issues for the foreseeable future."
I was the only member on this board with a Yellow Focus Sedan, and a 2002+ Euro Facelift on a sedan.