david_oz

hi everyone

i have a newbie question... if i need to see a specialist for something here, can i get a referral at any walk in clinic???

ive only needed to see a doctor once since ive been here for something really minor. i dont have a "family doctor" or any of that. and i have no idea who would be a good specialist in this area to see, but i know i need to see a specialist. so if i just rock up, and ask for a referral, am i likely to get anywhere??

thanks

dave

Aviator

Guess depends what specialist and which bits you want looked at, as well as what area. Any doctor can refer you if they think it is necessary, but unlikely if it is because you think you should be. Also you should find out if your medical insurance will cover this, or you may get the bill yourself.

charlottyb

You can get a referral from a walk-in clinic.
Although it may be better to go along and visit the said clinic first to meet one of the Drs.
They tend to work on a rota system and some clinics will allow you to make a follow-up appointment with the same Doc.
But it does really depend on their assessment of the condition.

This is assuming that you have Provincial Healthcare Coverage.

Here in Victoria, many patients do not have a family Dr and the clinic I work at (a specialist) accepts referrals from walk-in clinics.
Best of luck.

Zoe Bell

I've actually found that using a walk in clinic can be the fastest way to get a referral to a specialist. The walk in clinics really want to "treat and street" you, anything more complicated and they will do a referral for you.

Oh and when they tell you that " there is a long waiting list" be sure to clarify what " a long waiting list is". I got told this and a month later had my referral !

Piff Poff

I'm on a referral at the mo' from a walk in clinic, the earliest they can book me in is November - I've been waiting 2 months already, I am also waiting for a minor surgery 12 months or more later.

Steve&Tanya

As another poster said, depends on what type of specialist you are needing to see and what for.

My personal experience here in Calgary has been:

Referral to an OB-GYN which took 2 walk-in visits, a trip to emergency and 2 or 3 visits to my family doctor to get the referral and then 9 months for the appointment. I then got referred to a physiotherapist, which isn't covered by Alberta Health, but I got seen straight away.

Referral to an endocrinologist took 2 months and is covered by Alberta Health, but is costing me a lot of blood

BTW OP I don't think it was a dumb question.

Zoe Bell

different people's experiences are certainly interesting.

My referral took two visits to walk in clinic. Had consultant appt within the month , 2 week wait for CT scan

compared to 5 years of treatment from GP in UK , 2 years of " consultant appointments" ( quote marks because it was always a junior doctor I saw and never the same one twice). 6 months wait for the CT scan and three month wait for results. followed by 18 month wait for surgery.

Which appears to have done more harm than good and I'm now waiting for results of CT scan to see what damage there is and if it can be fixed

david_oz

thanks very much everyone... i think i will try my luck at a walk in clinic on the weekend and let you know how it goes


i guess the lesson is if alberta healthcare isnt involved then its quick and painless, otherwise its slow and painful

Aviator

and expensive

david_oz

ive got one of those manulife financial cards through work that i pay $60 / month for... hopefully that will cover me

Chookie

Not always expensive (or slow for that matter), Mr Chookies referral to a neurologist doesn't cost him a penny (beyond the cost of the prescriptions she gives him anyway)... and it only took a few weeks to come through as well...