Whilst family physicians were seen as critical to the district health system there was
ambivalence on their leadership role and ‘specialist’ status. National health reforms were
creating both threats and opportunities for family medicine. Three key roles for family
physicians emerged: supporting referrals; clinical governance/quality improvement; and
providing support to community-oriented care. Respondents’ urged family physicians to
consolidate the development and training of family physicians, and shape human resource
policy to include family physicians.