Can we register with GP and dentist when we land in Vancouver before coming back? or do we have to move there first and then register?

You do not need to register with a dentist. There is no subsidized dental care here. You can go to whichever dentist you like. Be prepared to pay big bucks unless you have an employment that covers dental care. You will probably have problems registering with a GP. Those taking new patients are in short supply and you may/probably will have to use walk-in clinics initially.

Register with a doctor - dont make me laugh!! I rang about 30 the other day - no luck!! You need a friend that has one that can refer you!

You'd have to be living in an area to get taken on as a patient. Some areas are harder than others. Some areas have new practices starting up, but few and far between. It's another of those who you know situations.

Ours closed down and so we had to find another. Fortunately the doc who did my flight medicals agreed to take us on, otherwise it would have been a problem.

Lots of people use walk in clinics.

You'd be damn lucky to find a walk-in clinic here. I went through this two years ago. Even the walk-ins were not accepting people who hadn't been there before. I have to go on to the Ontario side. Fortunately, I rarely get sick. Maybe I should contract a nasty ailment, like cancer or some serious heart condition. That might, just might, get me on a local GP's list.

Not even sure that would work as far as a GP is concerned.

It would get you on a cancer specialists or cardiologists list for however long they decide you need to be seen by them.

Perhaps some hope for those that don't have a family GP:

A new report looking at wait times for medical care says 95 per cent of Canadians in each community should have their own family doctor by 2012.

I hope that comes true.

Our doctors clinic is trying a new (to me) approach.

http://www.cvfp.com/whatsnew_residentsclinic.html

Sounds like it has potential.

Given that Rick is on the board of Foothills PCN (he may even be medical director) I'm not shocked that they are trying this 'initiative' (its basically ripped off from the Other Halfs unassigned clinics idea). I hope it works (for them AND those without Drs)

Oi don't u have summit to do wiv a pitcher.

I didn't have any problems registering at all. Just rang the nearest doc and turned up.

You've got to be here 3 months before you get provincial coverage I think. Not sure what affect this has on registering with a doctor; but they wanted to see my medicare card when I did.

Apparently I have chores to do first

Talking as the mother of someone who contracted one of those nasty ailments - cancer, then trust me when I say you dont

Of course I don't want to. My point is that it would take something like that for me to have any chance of access to a GP.