Dear Editor:
The crisis in family medicine is getting worse with no workable solution in sight as Ford’s government continues to show doctors it doesn’t care about their working conditions or salaries.
You just need to call your doctor to book an appointment to know that family medicine in Ontario is in crisis.
About 2.3 million Ontarians don’t have a family doctor, and that number will rise as our population increases and family doctors make the painful decision to leave the profession or retire after years of sacrifice to get their degree and the burdensome cost of their education!
In a recent survey, three-quarters of Ontario family doctors polled self-reported that they are considering leaving the profession. And many are at their wits end dealing with ever-increasing costs and workloads with no help in sight.
Last week, doctors in Ontario received a new piece of bad news to add to the pressure.
The Government of Ontario sets aside a certain amount of money for medical care. Ontario’s population increased by half a million people, but no increase to the budget for care was made, so doctors are required to pick up the slack.
In an environment of increased costs, an exhausting workload, impoverished morale and the loss of a sustainable workforce, this crisis says in big letters that the government will not or does not care about its doctors.
Don’t get sick.
Gerry Walsh,
Erin