Last week, NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) announced significant and troubling changes in adult primary care and pediatrics across affiliated health facilities, slashing new patient visit times from 40 minutes to just 20 minutes. Below is a statement from Dr. Frances Quee, pediatrician and President of Doctors Council SEIU, expressing concerns about this reduction in patient appointment times.

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"We are disappointed by the latest unilateral decision made by H+H to cut new patient appointment times in ambulatory care. This is the wrong solution to a systemic problem that Doctors Council SEIU has been addressing at the bargaining table for almost a year and further highlights the retention and recruitment crisis the system is facing. We believe H+H has overstepped its boundaries by not including frontline doctors in this decision, to the detriment of the patients they serve and ultimately the City of New York. We are hopeful this is rectified by maintaining an appropriate workforce through a fair contract and not by lowering the quality of care for patients by reducing their time with a doctor. New Yorkers deserve better."

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