10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
May 28th 2009, 2:30 pm
#1
Pamela 1
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 257
10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
I have just made an appointment to see my GP and have to wait 10 weeks! Fortunately it is not urgent but I am going to speak to him and find out why after being a patient for many years (not having to see him often) one has a long wait. Cobourg Ontario.
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
May 28th 2009, 2:36 pm
#2
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
I have just made an appointment to see my GP and have to wait 10 weeks! Fortunately it is not urgent but I am going to speak to him and find out why after being a patient for many years (not having to see him often) one has a long wait. Cobourg Ontario.
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
May 28th 2009, 2:36 pm
#3
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
10 weeks is ridiculous! My GP is 25 minutes up the road from you in Trenton, non urgent appointments are usually a week or so, but if its urgent he will try and fit you in that day, next day at worst.
GP care is very patchy though, especially in the smaller towns that have to work hard to recruit GPs. Belleville and Trentons have been quite sucessfull with their recruitment program thankfully. Its not really the doctors fault, Im sure he would love to have more reasonable wait times, but its just a function of too many patients, too few GPs in the small towns.
GP care is very patchy though, especially in the smaller towns that have to work hard to recruit GPs. Belleville and Trentons have been quite sucessfull with their recruitment program thankfully. Its not really the doctors fault, Im sure he would love to have more reasonable wait times, but its just a function of too many patients, too few GPs in the small towns.
Last edited by iaink; May 28th 2009 at 2:45 pm.
May 28th 2009, 2:37 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Arnhem, Netherlands
Posts: 288
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Do you not have walk-in clinics in Ontario? I have a local 'GP'. I must say I hav never had that kind of wait...but if I need to see him urgently I can just go to his clinic and wait as a walk in?? There are also numerous 'walk ins' around the city?
Does seem like a crazy amount of time I agree!!
Lisa
Does seem like a crazy amount of time I agree!!
Lisa
May 28th 2009, 2:38 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Arnhem, Netherlands
Posts: 288
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
....Sorry...Just re-read your post and saw that you do!!! I know it is a pain not always knowing the Dr but they are a good back up.....
May 28th 2009, 2:42 pm
#6
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Yes we do. They tend to be a good place to hang around and get sick while you wait your turn
The teleheath phone thing works pretty well too for general concerns and for triage, and they can give the local hospital a headsup if you need to come in that can save some of the waiting in emerg.
A (good) GP is preferable as they have access to your history, but a ten week wait does no one any good. We initially had a crap GP, so abandoned him in favour of the walk in clinics, before landing our current Doc. There is a lot of demand for GPs still, probably the majority of people in smaller places have to rely on the walk in clinics...
The teleheath phone thing works pretty well too for general concerns and for triage, and they can give the local hospital a headsup if you need to come in that can save some of the waiting in emerg.A (good) GP is preferable as they have access to your history, but a ten week wait does no one any good. We initially had a crap GP, so abandoned him in favour of the walk in clinics, before landing our current Doc. There is a lot of demand for GPs still, probably the majority of people in smaller places have to rely on the walk in clinics...
May 28th 2009, 2:53 pm
#7
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: the GTA
Posts: 3,824
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
I have just made an appointment to see my GP and have to wait 10 weeks! Fortunately it is not urgent but I am going to speak to him and find out why after being a patient for many years (not having to see him often) one has a long wait. Cobourg Ontario.
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
Last year I needed to see him urgently and was told 6 weeks for first available appt. First she said call for an emergency appointment at 9 a.m. Whe I do that line is always engaged, then when I do get through at 2 minutes past nine all emerg. appointments taken! I was told to go to Fastrack at the hospital, which happens to be slowtrack all the hours one has to wait or go to nearby Port Hope walk in clinic which I did and dr. knew little about what I had and gave me an antibiotic that didn't work.
2 days later I was on a plane to UK for winter. When we arrived in Eastbourne I knew I had to see a Doctor and within 30 minutes of making enquiries to see one I had an appointment.
Two weeks later we were staying in Dorset and I needed to see a doctor since the medication worked but not entirely. I got a same day appointment and had to see him the following 3 weeks and always got an appointment for the next day.
I have spoken to other people here in Cobourg and they too have to wait 4 or 6 weeks to get a dr. appointment. This is quite outrageous but guess one will not get anywhere speaking to the doctor concerned though I will try when I see him.
Not impressed with health care in this part of Canada but it seems one has to put up with it. Guess we could go back and live in UK!
May 28th 2009, 3:08 pm
#8
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,606
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Yes we do. They tend to be a good place to hang around and get sick while you wait your turn The teleheath phone thing works pretty well too for general concerns and for triage, and they can give the local hospital a headsup if you need to come in that can save some of the waiting in emerg.
A (good) GP is preferable as they have access to your history, but a ten week wait does no one any good. We initially had a crap GP, so abandoned him in favour of the walk in clinics, before landing our current Doc. There is a lot of demand for GPs still, probably the majority of people in smaller places have to rely on the walk in clinics...
The teleheath phone thing works pretty well too for general concerns and for triage, and they can give the local hospital a headsup if you need to come in that can save some of the waiting in emerg.A (good) GP is preferable as they have access to your history, but a ten week wait does no one any good. We initially had a crap GP, so abandoned him in favour of the walk in clinics, before landing our current Doc. There is a lot of demand for GPs still, probably the majority of people in smaller places have to rely on the walk in clinics...
We have been given a tip-off that the U of O medical centre will soon be accepting new patients, including even more from QC. We're monitoring that one very closely.
May 28th 2009, 3:30 pm
#9
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,332
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Our Doctor is pretty good, if it is urgent they will see you on the day, routine appts are the same week.
I have only had one instance where I could not get in same day, as they had closed. I went to the Walk in Clinic, they have a great system where you make an appointment and they call you at home when it is almost your turn.
I have only had one instance where I could not get in same day, as they had closed. I went to the Walk in Clinic, they have a great system where you make an appointment and they call you at home when it is almost your turn.
May 28th 2009, 4:26 pm
#10
Thinking the unthinkable.
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Guelph, Ontario
Posts: 2,136
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Used our Doc for the first time last week.
Phoned and got an appointment the next morning. Turned up, she had a look at severe ankle sprain and asked me to go for X-rays. Gave me a chitty and 30 minutes later the X-rays had been done at a local clinic.
She's as mad as a hatter though and looks like a cross between side show Bob and Crystal Tips!
Phoned and got an appointment the next morning. Turned up, she had a look at severe ankle sprain and asked me to go for X-rays. Gave me a chitty and 30 minutes later the X-rays had been done at a local clinic.
She's as mad as a hatter though and looks like a cross between side show Bob and Crystal Tips!
May 28th 2009, 4:33 pm
#11
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
A ten week wait is not unusual if it's for an annual check-up or such like, other than that a day or two is all I'm willing to tollerate.
May 28th 2009, 5:05 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Toronto, back to London, UK
Posts: 153
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
OMG !
This not funny !! Its a disgrace !
I hope its not like that in The Greater Toronto Area !
No matter what, If I need to see the GP, I can see her on the day, even if I have to wait a couple of hours !
This not funny !! Its a disgrace !
I hope its not like that in The Greater Toronto Area !
No matter what, If I need to see the GP, I can see her on the day, even if I have to wait a couple of hours !
May 28th 2009, 5:11 pm
#13
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 4,219
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
The GTA is quite good compared to many places, but thats because we have plenty of doctors here
May 28th 2009, 6:35 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 49
Re: 10 week wait to see GP - Ontario
Hi,
That is not the norm in Ontario. In Toronto I have been offered a same day routine appointment and usually I get seen within a couple of days for routine appointments. My doctor's surgery also has an urgent walk in clinic every day. And I believe they are still taking new patients. They are an excellent practice.
Chris
That is not the norm in Ontario. In Toronto I have been offered a same day routine appointment and usually I get seen within a couple of days for routine appointments. My doctor's surgery also has an urgent walk in clinic every day. And I believe they are still taking new patients. They are an excellent practice.
Chris