So long as the practice of medicine is controlled by the global budgets of health districts across our provinces, the voices of medical practitioners and their associations will be countered by better politicians than ourselves who claim we should do more with less, because their accounts are in deficit. In response to the needs of the membership, the CAGS has been active over the past 10 years in developing practice guidelines and advocating better workplace conditions for general surgeons. These are important issues involving quality of patient care on the one hand and practitioner lifestyle on the other. There are 2 things that members can do for the CAGS and themselves. First, conduct and participate in sound health outcomes research in your region.
Scientific data showing impact on the quality of care is impossible to refute.
Second, maintain your role as the patient's advocate, but support your client's advocacy on your behalf. User dissat-isfaction with the resources available must be appropriately reported to senior management, in this case government. An unhappy electorate is a very powerful political force. In order to shift direction, the Royal College would have to off-load certain responsibilities to affiliated organizations such as the national specialty societies. This presents an excellent opportunity for the CAGS to assume a leadership position in new areas of major significance for our members.