Depends on the doctor.  I have waited 6 months+ to see specialists.  I'm a little confused by your friend's situation though, GPs don't generally work in the ER and specialists usually won't see you without a referral.

I have a new GP and it took about 2 months to get in for a meet and greet.  Appointments otherwise can usually be made withint 2 weeks.

I don't agree with going to the ER for a lump.  The ER should be for emergencies, where treatment is needed before you can get in to see a GP.  If I were her, I would have gone to a walk-in clinic or made an appointment at a medicentre.

Kay, I do hope that the lump that your friend felt is just that - a lump!  I forgot to mention the other option, when it is something serious like that, to get your family doctor to get you in a little quicker!  They usually will make exceptions for something like that.  I've also been on cancellation lists for specialists.

Hi kay, i don't know....for us, every time we phone, we get in.  if it is urgent, it is same day

It depends on the doctor here. Our GPs do work in Emerg, and many of them do anaesthetic in the OR. My GP was on medical leave for a few months, then mat leave for a few more. She was off for a year or so. I switched docs because I wanted something checked in that time. The doc I changed to has longer wait times, likely because he does a lot of Emerg work. I've just decided to return to my previous doc now that she is back. Even working fewer hours, she is easier to get in to see. I called today and got an appointment next week.  We have three medical clinics that have several docs in each. They all do walk-in, so you can always see a doctor in your own clinic. 

We have had awesome care at the walk in clinic here in the last 9 months. Wait time at most 1 hour and best is walk straight in. Doctors were caring and competant-but very quick.

Have switched over to a doctor taking new patients. Got an appointment within a week. Partly switched because my son has complex health needs and needs just one doctor following him

We are with a clinic that has four or five doctors working out of it. If one is away on holidays they will get you in wiht another. If it is somewhat pressing and hopefully quick (perscription refill) then they can do a 'fit-in'.

We all have family doctors we like. The kids and I have a lovely woman, and my  husband has a man, all from the same clinic. My husband also really likes his psychiatrist. We are blessed.

I don't blame her for going to emerg really. If it's something new and strange, especially an unusual lump in the breast, I would want to get it checked out as soon as possible. People go in for weird rashes that appear suddenly, I would think a new lump in the breast that's worrying is an equally valid reson to go. YEs, here it is very hard to get a good doctor. Mine is good and works out of a clinic as well, but is only there on two particualr days a week. He takes appointments because he's very popular, and often he's booked up for two weeks at a time. The others at the same clinic are hit and miss. They all have access to my  file, but they don't  all seem to have access to empathy. So, if I were her and my doctor couldn't seem me for awhile (although he's the kind of guy who would squeze me in for something like that...he's even stayed overtime and squeezed me in last minute after his last appointment before).

I don't blame her for going to emerg really. If it's something new and strange, especially an unusual lump in the breast, I would want to get it checked out as soon as possible. People go in for weird rashes that appear suddenly, I would think a new lump in the breast that's worrying is an equally valid reason to go to emergency. Yes, here it is very hard to get a good doctor, and  there is a shortage of GP's taking patients. Mine is really good and works out of a clinic as well, actually the clinic, and in one of the hospital palliative care wards part time...a really good guy...but there are only 2 days a week I can see him in the clinic. He takes appointments because he's very popular, and often he's booked up for two weeks at a time. The others at the same clinic are hit and miss. They all have access to my  file, but they don't  all seem to have access to empathy. So, if I were her and my doctor couldn't see me for awhile (although he's the kind of guy who would squeeze me in for something like that...he's even stayed overtime and squeezed me in last minute after his last appointment before).

Also, I think I would feel better if they were doing the testing right there and then at the hospital, so if it is a serious problem, they can take action sooner rather than later..and if they needed to admit her straight away, the could do that too.

Kimmio, I disagree.   I have gone to the ER a few times and despite long, long waits for most people there, I was taken in right after being triaged.  Meaning I needed to be there (some with the long waits should have been there, and some should not have gone to the ER).  These times I had to wait to be triaged.  When someone really needs emergency care those moments while waiting to be triaged can be critical.  There are waiting lists for specialists, to have biopsies, etc.  Going to the ER does not move one up the list.  A breast lump while very concerning is not an emergency that needs immediate treatment.

I am speaking about major cities; things could be different in smaller centres.

I live in a big city as well. I brought myself in to the ER once a few years ago because I was having a panick attack with chest pains late at night...thought it was a heart attack (first time I'd ever had one with chest pains, but not the first panick attack...I had probably psyched myself up worrying about it)  and I was seen immediately. They did a bunch of tests and chest x-rays, then sent me home within 4 hours. It turned out to be "nothing" (a panic attack and likely some GERD involvement),I felt foolish after, but they weren't upset that I went in..they said it was better that I went just in case. I went in once because I  slipped on the icey sidewalk and hit my head late in the evening,  so Ithought I should be checked for concussion (the passerby who helped me up recommended it),.again, if it was anything, it was a mild concussion and a pretty good goose-egg on the back of my head, but I was seen fairly quickly. I've been in to the ER for a couple of other things some more serious, some less (once it was an excrutiatinng ear ache like my eardrum was going to burst...I wouldn't have gone, but I was in seething  pain...again, not life threatening ...again because it was after hours, and I had nowhere else to go, but I understand I wasn't a top priority compared to people in life threatening situations, so that's totally okay...to wait as long as need be...I am not saying she should not have had to wait.  I would think also, if the doctors didn't think it she should be there, they would send her home and tell her to wait for her doctor's appointment, don't you think? I would think they could make that call if they're too busy. I understand it's not immediately life threatening, and critical situations definately come first, but if a person is willing to wait and it's it's not crowded with people in life threatening distress, I can understand. I don;t make a habit of going to emerg myself, but maybe have been a couple more times than the average person (my visits there have been few and far between in my adult life though...I think 4 times in total), but it seems like too long for Kay's friend to wait for something like that, imo...because sometimes by the time it gets noticed it's advanced..

I go to the local walk in clinic. Since they don't take appointments or assign patients a regular Dr you see whoever happens to be in and available first. But you can always see a Dr the same day you go in.  Sometimes you have to sit in the waiting room 3 or 4 hours first though.

Iknow someone whose plan is they just show up at their doctor's and sit in the office until he seems him.  Not recommended, but it works for him.  

Kimmio, many of those situations you explained do need immediate treatment.  Some may have been treated better at a walkin clinic, but if it's at night that isn't always possible.  I'm not saying that the ER is for life threatening situations only.  A breast lump (without other symptoms) doesn't fit that category.  I agree that waiting that the wait for the appointment was too long.  Also, they won't tell you at the ER that you don't have to be there.  Once you're there, a doctor will see you unless you decide to leave.  I wouldn't get mad at someone who showed up with a breast lump, but here we have the ability to discuss such a situation.

Pinga, I agree that's probably not the best idea.  It's probably why most practices include walkin hours.  I can't think of a GP where all the doctors at the practice are appointment only.  Although it may not be the doctor you want to see, someone will see you.

Circumstances do indeed seem to differ from area to area when it comes to access to health care.

We have a small group of doctors working together in this town.  As I showed in my opening post  - they are busy and booked up for weeks into the future.  The person with the lump was using a bike for transport that day so didn't have access to the closest walk-in clinic (over an hour away by car).  People in that situation who believe they need to see a doctor go to ER, knowing they are low priority.  Major emergencies always get seem immediately.  Other problems are ranked - those with significant pain are seen before minor injuries.  Those likely to be contagious tend to get moved from the main waiting area quite quickly. 

The doctor who checked the lump asked about the walk-in clinic and agreed that she had made the best of a bad situation.  Suspicious lumps should not be waiting many weeks for proper examination.

She at least has a regular family doctor - I don't.  Mine left about three years ago and although I have seen various doctors since then none of them have stayed here.

My partner does that at his doctor's office too...lol. Usually it's for a check-in before he gets a prescription renewal, so it's in and out...but they always see him.

Sometimes you can phone the office in the morning to see if there have been any cancellations. That would be better than just showing up.

I know someone who just showed up and said they'd wait for a cancellation.  They waited until the clinic closed at noon.  They also waited again all afternoon until the doctors left at the end of the day.  Apparently the doctors are busy enough with the patients who have appointments.

We have 2 different scenarios at the 2 local clinics.  The first clinic has long wait times, the second clinic...you see the doc the same day.  Your history is accessed via computer so you can see any doctor.  If you prefer to see your own, you may have to wait a day or two, but if it's a pertinent issue, you are seen the same day.

They are quite remarkable, in my opinion, and long term kinds of things (bone density issues, etc) are handled by nutritionists, rn's and practical nurses and your doc pops in if they need validation.   Slick. 

You're right. In my partner's case, I think he's allergic to the doctor, so when he has to go, he just shows up...and so far it's worked for him. His doctor knows him I guess, and has accepted that he does that. He won't go unless he absolutely has to...he's just one of those people. On the other hand,  I've been the opposite, and have gone more than I needed to perhaps, at times.  He gets prescriptions for several months at a time, but needs to check in from time to time to monitor any side effects...so the doctor limits his prescriptions so he'll go in I think...and that's how he does it.  I prefer to call ahead myself.

From detection of lump to surgery - that included xrays, mamogram and biopsy. visit with surgeon and pre op.- very quick through my family doctor - little less than .3 months

I agree that a lump isn't a reason for a visit to emerg. Some info about what to be concerned about might be a good idea for your friend. What the lump feels Ike, does it move.........

But I also think not being able to get in to see your doctor for sick call for a month is silly. Perhaps she didn't explain the situation properly. As far as I know most family docs or family doc groups have sick call hours daily or every other day. Two or so hours in the morning where patients can call.

So I would suggest your friend call the office to find out when the doc sees sick patients. Keeping in mind that the receptionist has as her job keeping the doctor not overbooked.

Once your friend understands how the office handles sick calls then she should make her appointment that way.

In my case I can see my doc today or tomorrow if I'll but not for several weeks if I am booking a regular check up.

Well about 5 years ago i found myself without a family GP. Millions of Canadians have no GP and most of the, have chronic illnesses. Also as a person with a disability most Hospitals have barriers that make it impossible to access the hospital system.

For instance i have nerve damage to my hands and feet which make it difficult to stand the hours it takes to see a doctor at a clinic. So when i had a bone infection and a blood clot in my leg i was also unable to sit. When presenting to the emrgency i became exhausted andin a lot of pain after waiting an hour, and so I layed down. I had already ask if i could have a place to lay but was told i was not sick enough. They than informed me not to expect any painkillers. likely because I have HIV. Howevr i can mot tolerate painkillers unless I stay in bed because they destroy ( even tylenol 3) my ability to talk. So i have no history of taking or asking for pain killers. Communications in genral become problematic for me when i am ill, and i can not risk impair it any more.

So after laying down, behind a bunch of wheelchairs so that few would notice, i was told that i would be arrested unless i stood. I had to leave becausei could not stand for much longer. It took a week and eventual i had to go to New Brunswick for health care where my sister and brother in law are doctors and the wait times in emrgency is usually less than an hour. And they discovered by blood clot had returned and streched from my hip to my knee.

Interestingly Ottawa has the highest ratio of doctors to patients in Canada, i am told. Yet it takes two months to get an appoint at the HiV clinic, while it only takes a couple of weks to get one at the clinic in Toronto. I have been told the same story by people with other health concerns in Ottawa. A person in my church have had to go to Montreal for brainnsurgery and aneurism

A lot of GPs do ER work in various parts of the country. Mine does.

Waiting times to get in to see my family doctor can be frustrating though. A few years ago my daughter was 3 years old and had a temperature of 103 that had lasted more than 24 hours. I called for an appointment and explained the situation. The receptionist offered me an appointment about 3 weeks down the road! I actually said "she'll either be better or dead by then, so what's the point." The fever didn't improve and so we took her to the ER that night - and who was the doctor working? Our family doctor. After I told him what had happened he just told me not to even bother with the receptionist and to just ask for his nurse and insist on being connected and we'd get in, because when it was a sick child he had no objection to fitting in an extra appointment.