Are cuts to health expenditure in Victoria compromising quality of care?
Separate state-wide surveys of women who had recently given birth in Victoria were conducted in 1989 and 1993. The first survey was conducted in conjunction with the Victorian Ministerial Review of Birthing Services. The second survey occurred three years after the release of the Review's final report and three months after the introduction of casemix funding. It coincided with a period of substantial cutbacks to expenditure on Victorian public hospitals. In both studies, surveys were mailed to women 6 to 9 months after the birth. Response rates were 71.4% (n = 790) in 1989 and 62.5% (n = 1336) in 1993. Between the two surveys, the proportion of women giving critical feedback about caregivers, more than doubled. The survey findings suggest that standards of care are being compromised in the current economic and policy environment.
Brown
S
S
Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria. Stephanie@latrobe.edu.au
Lumley
J
J
D003696:Delivery Rooms / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria