ARE CUTS TO HEALTH EXPENDITURE IN VICTORIA COMPROMISING QUALITY OF CARE

Separate state-wide surveys of women who had recently given birth in V ictoria were conducted in 1989 and 1993. The first survey was conducte d in conjunction with the Victorian Ministerial Review of Birthing Ser vices. The second survey occurred three years after the release of the Review's final report and three months after the introduction of case mix funding. It coincided with a period of substantial cutbacks to exp enditure 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, m ore than doubted. The survey findings suggest that standards of care a re being compromised in the current economic and policy environment.