May 1, 1997
(Health)

Minister comments on doctor's responsibilities

Minister of Health, Lloyd Matthews, responded today to information put forward by a doctor from Corner Brook in a CBC Radio interview this morning suggesting that physicians do not have an obligation to cover a hospital emergency department. The minister said general practitioners should participate in a fair and reasonable on-call schedule for hospitals or clinics in their region.

"It is only normal and responsible for physicians to provide routine and emergency care, not only for their own patients, but also to those other patients entrusted to their care when they are on-call," said the minister. "This is understood and is accepted practice by physicians in this province. In fact, physicians, when on-call, should be prepared to see any patient whose illness warrants a physician visit."

The minister said he recognizes there are stresses in the health care system, and pointed out that the Health Care Forum will help to determine where the priority areas are which need to be addressed. He also said that all physicians are entitled to reasonable personal time free from the obligations of practice, and cannot be expected to provide on-call coverage for extended periods of time.

"We intend to move quickly and thoroughly through the health forum to seek frank and substantive input which will result in optimal solutions," said the minister. "We recognize the merit of the advice of professionals in the field, and look forward to a reasonable dialogue with them. Government is committed to improving health care to the extent possible, but at the same time, we believe our overall system is fundamentally sound."

The minister called on doctors in the Corner Brook area to continue their practice in a responsible fashion.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, (709) 729-4062.