Wait time for referrals?

stevie · 05-02-2006, 11:41 PM

Hi everyone! Just wondering what your experience has been as far as wait times for referrals to an endo, RE, or fertility specialist. How long did it take between your referral being made and the appointment?

My GP made a referral to an endo and she said it would take about 2 months before the appointment. That's more than long enough. I called the endo's office today and they said that i wouldn't get an appointment until the end of August! That's 5 months

Is this the norm? Is it just for Manitoba? If it is, what can we do about it?

I love our health care system here in Canada but it usually takes over a month just for an appointment with my GP. Is anyone else getting fed up, too?

I'm sorry if this seems negative. Most of the threads here, under "Canadian Cysters", usually seem upbeat. Sorry to be a downer.

BeetleGirl · 05-03-2006, 12:08 AM

I think all across the country people are hurting because of wait times.
I have had referals that I was told I would have to wait almost a year to get in. Since I am super impatient I always call the dr, clinic, test place, whatever and try to get in on a cancellation list. It has saved me much time waiting for medical treatments that have at times been urgent.
Maybe you can call the endo's office and see if they have a list...sadly most offices don't offer this unless they are asked.

Good Luck

newfiecyster · 05-03-2006, 12:29 AM

I heard that to get a app with a endo here in newfoundland it is a yr long wait. I swear that is so crazy. Even with my gyne a referral takes about 6 months but once you gets into there system it is much better. I can call any time and get a app within a week or two.

Ajani · 05-03-2006, 03:01 PM

My wait time was originally 6-9 months, but I think I waited a year because they moved their office.

stevie · 05-04-2006, 03:06 AM

Hi everybody! Thanks for responding. A year wait time? Wow!!

Beetlegirl - The office does have a cancellation list and they said they almost called me the day before i called but noticed that I was 2 hours out of the city and the appointment was for 8:00 am. I guess there is hope that I'll get in before that but . . .

Newfie cyster - I'm an uprooted Newfie myself. My family moved off the island when i was just a year old but we spent most summer vacations there. My parents moved back a few years ago. MY DH and I are going home in July for a couple of weeks. i know they often have a long wait time for a doc appt, different kind of docs though dad probably needs an endo for his diabetes, but I didn't realize it was that long.

Ajani - They moved their office and you had to wait longer? Did they all go on vacation between locations? To Hawaii maybe?

Thanks for responding to my questions. Have a great evening!

byatchette · 05-04-2006, 01:43 PM

Hi Stevie,

I had to wait about 4 months before getting an appt at Heartland. Once you're in though, it's not so bad!

I know, hard to be patient when you just want to get things done, but it's definitely worth it!

Ajani · 05-04-2006, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Ajani - They moved their office and you had to wait longer? Did they all go on vacation between locations? To Hawaii maybe?

Moving a medical office takes time, and that time was reflected in a longer wait time for new patients.

Canadian Kokopelli · 05-04-2006, 11:42 PM

Stevie, Tracy is right. The initial wait is longer but once you get in, it's not so bad. I had a long wait to get into the endo and my wait to see a OB/GYN at first was 6 months. I think my doc sent the referral to heartland in June and I finally got an appointment for Oct. That said, once you get your foot in the door, they tend to be able to schedule you sooner.

stevie · 05-05-2006, 12:23 AM

Hi Ajani - I'm sorry if i offended you by my first comment. I guess I was just in a sarcastic mood because I'm so frustrated! Sorry - please forgive? I promise, I'm not usually so rude.

Tracy and Canadian Kokopelli- It's great to hear from you both again, especially since i know that your experience is local. I guess I need to be more patient, but I've been trying to get help from my Gp on this for over a year (even though I havn't been ttc quite that long) and it's almost like I've just started. Especially since in November when she told me I had PCOS she said I did n't need an endo and now she says I do, even tho nothing has really changed. I might make an appointment and ask her to go ahead for a referral for Heartland as well just in case i need that in the end too. At least that wouldn't take as long then. Tracy - How is your pregnancy going?

Have a great evening everyone!

byatchette · 05-05-2006, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie

Tracy - How is your pregnancy going?

Have a great evening everyone!

It's going really well! Thanks for asking! I'm showing now, fairly high, so I can still wear a lot of regular clothes, but I love wearing maternity clothes because they enhance everything so much more nice (ie when i wear my regular clothes, i just look fat)

Only 13wks to go! And I haven't gotten a thing done yet! lol

Good luck with the referral. I'm not sure if you said you see a GP or an OB/GYN. I went to see my OB when we had been TTC for about 6 mos and she immediately referred me. Once I got in, my appts were much more reasonable, and they're very accommodating when it comes to cancellations etc.

Jen K · 05-23-2006, 06:44 PM

Wait times here in Canada are obscene. I am disgusted when I hear about people having to wait so long to get in to see a specialist (or even just a regular doctor for that matter). And then hearing about some people being able to "jump the line" because they are in some way priveliged. That, is not acceptable. If there's a waiting list, everyone should be treated equally.

This is what concerns me most when I hear talk of a two-tier health care system. People who don't have the money or means to pay for their health care will end up getting put on longer and longer waiting lists because the people with money will jump to the front of the line constantly. Doesn't seem right to me.

Jen K

onelove24 · 05-23-2006, 08:18 PM

Stevie, Tracy is right. The initial wait is longer but once you get in, it's not so bad. I waited about 2months to get in but once you are in there it is not that bad!I am also an up rooted newfie!! And I am going home for 2 weeks at the end of july!!

stevie · 05-23-2006, 11:25 PM

Hi Leslie and Jen - thank you for your responses. I guess I just have to be patient and right now I'm feeling anything but! Hopefully, a solution will be found to our health care waiting lists and it won't involve a 2 tier system. It is good to hear that after your initial appointment that it does not take so long for others.

Lesley - Do you think if we ALL went back to the rock at the same time that it would sink? I'm often running into people from Nfld. Enjoy your time back home. I'm hoping to get to show my DH a whale while we're out in Dad's boat. He's only been there once before.

newfiecyster · 05-23-2006, 11:40 PM

This is so neat i am not the only one here from the rock. I thought for the longest i was the only one. I love to chat you any of you anytime.

onelove24 · 05-24-2006, 01:07 AM

Me too girls! I would love to chat with you all!

Stevie- were are you going to this summer in newfoundland?

newfiecyster- Glad that you are not the only one! Hope to talk to you soon!