While the official position may be to increase the GP's (and I hear it is not the official position),...the fact that GP's merely serve as a conduit to specialists is lost on few. Why spend so much training a doctor (first degree (4 years) plus another 4-6 years just to make a GP when a nurse practitioner is just as good (5 years), in fact they are better because they get less in pay and in many cases are far better trained at what they do than GP's. They are forced to continue to upgrade their skills whereas many GP's escape this requirement.
I am biased, I know too many nurses, nurse practitioners , nursing home nurses, hospital nurses, home care nurses, research nurses. I also know too many GP's that don't pull their weight in the system, but make lots of money (lots more than a nurse practitioner) by pushing patients through their practices but offer little in terms of health care.
I realize this is may be a provincial thing, may even be a regional thing...although I'm based in Eastern Ontario, I have too often received chit care here, only to get excellent care in Vancouver or Waterloo Ontario,...not sure if it's still the case with recent cutbacks,..and it is clearly doctor dependent as some are incredible, but most are not. |
