Seeing ENT specialist without Referral in Toronto?

[NiSn]

Hi
My wife is struggling with some serious Pain issues in Ear. However, none of the walk in clinics is inclined to refer her to an ENT specialist. Its been more than 2 months now. Is there a way we can get an appointment with ENT specialists even if it means paying out of our pocket?

 

[canuck78]

Hi
My wife is struggling with some serious Pain issues in Ear. However, none of the walk in clinics is inclined to refer her to an ENT specialist. Its been more than 2 months now. Is there a way we can get an appointment with ENT specialists even if it means paying out of our pocket?

You can certainly try but with covid there are already long wait times and those with provincial healthcare will be prioritized so you may be denied or put at the very bottom of a list after all provincial patients. The system is in place so that people can’t pay to skip the line in most public institutions. There are some private clinics in Canada although I don’t believe ENT services are usually offered in those clinics. GPs that examined your wife should have looked in her ears. If nothing was visible the ear pain doesn’t mean there is actually anything wrong with her ears. It looks like you only arrived in Canada a few months ago. Would first of all look for a family doctor if you want help dealing with an ongoing problem. Seeking help using a walk-in clinic is only good for one time acute issues and not ongoing issues where multiple treatments may need to be exhausted before a referral is considered. This could be as simple as allergies causing eustachian tubes to swell and not drain properly.

 

[Naturgrl]

ENT wait times are 9-12 months at minimum. If you don‘t have a family doctor then find one. Your GP will be the one who oversees your long term care and can refer your wife to a specialist.

 

[canuck78]

In Canada a GP usually treats you (or attempts to) until it becomes clear that more specialized advice/care is needed and often a specialist is used more like a consultant and the GP is still the one prescribing medication. In other countries you go to a specialist even if the issue could have been treated by a GP.

 

[scylla]

Hi
My wife is struggling with some serious Pain issues in Ear. However, none of the walk in clinics is inclined to refer her to an ENT specialist. Its been more than 2 months now. Is there a way we can get an appointment with ENT specialists even if it means paying out of our pocket?

You need someone to refer your wife to a specialist.

Has your wife returned to the same walk in clinic for the issue she is experiencing or has she gone to different clinics looking for a referral? If she has gone to different clinics, then I would recommend that she instead return to a clinic she has previously visited to let them know the problem is still ongoing and to request a referral. This will show there is a history of the issue and the issue has not gone away even though she has tried the treatment recommended.

Ideally she would have a family doctor. But a family doctor is not necessary to get a referral. You can still get a referral through a walk in clinic. I would just very strongly recommend using the same walk in clinic all of the time so that they have a record of her visits, the treatments recommended and can see the problem is ongoing. Don't switch around and visit different clinics.

Hope this helps.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi
My wife is struggling with some serious Pain issues in Ear. However, none of the walk in clinics is inclined to refer her to an ENT specialist. Its been more than 2 months now. Is there a way we can get an appointment with ENT specialists even if it means paying out of our pocket?

You need to find a family Dr first prior to seeing a specialist. Have you been on the ministries website to see what family physicians in your area are accepting new patients ? There is a phone number as well. But as mentioned, you cannot pay to jump the que.

Find a doctor | Ontario.ca

 

[canuck78]

Ear pain can mean many things and isn’t necessarily related to the ear. For example could be a dental issue. Usually a GP will want/need to exhaust the treatment options they are familiar with to try to eliminate the pain before referring to a specialist. Has she actually received treatment and have the doctors identified what they think is the issue? How many walk in clinics have you gone to?

 

[shashi_b]

ENT wait times are 9-12 months at minimum. If you don‘t have a family doctor then find one. Your GP will be the one who oversees your long term care and can refer your wife to a specialist.

@Naturgrl - I assume this is from personal experience.

The treatment from my GP is not working out and I am thinking to ask for referral.

Therefore,curious to know if wait times are really that long 9-12 months?

 

[shashi_b]

Ear pain can mean many things and isn’t necessarily related to the ear. For example could be a dental issue. Usually a GP will want/need to exhaust the treatment options they are familiar with to try to eliminate the pain before referring to a specialist. Has she actually received treatment and have the doctors identified what they think is the issue? How many walk in clinics have you gone to?

From my experience GP are not that well equipped to diagnose and treat anything specific and this referral system is damn slow.

Most of the referral have a wait of 2-3 months, looks like system is broken.

 

[Naturgrl]

@Naturgrl - I assume this is from personal experience.

The treatment from my GP is not working out and I am thinking to ask for referral.

Therefore,curious to know if wait times are really that long 9-12 months?

Depends where you live, but I have personal experience for members of my family. One waited 6 months and the other 12 months but this was during Covid. First appointments were over the phone and then another appointment for in person. Family members were not in need of immediate care and being cared for by family doctor so not concerned. Another member required more urgent care and saw an ENT specialist within 6 weeks and surgery a month later.

 

[shashi_b]

Depends where you live, but I have personal experience for members of my family. One waited 6 months and the other 12 months but this was during Covid. First appointments were over the phone and then another appointment for in person. Family members were not in need of immediate care and being cared for by family doctor so not concerned. Another member required more urgent care and saw an ENT specialist within 6 weeks and surgery a month later.

Thanks for quick reply.

I live in Toronto, I hope response may be quick as Covid restrictions are lifted now.

 

[canuck78]

From my experience GP are not that well equipped to diagnose and treat anything specific and this referral system is damn slow.

Most of the referral have a wait of 2-3 months, looks like system is broken.

True emergencies are triaged and are seen faster like cancer. You may be coming from a system where people pay for care so only a certain portion of the population can afford care. In Canada everyone has access to care so there are wait times. 2-3 month wait times are fairly standard and in most cases don’t make a large difference. In many situations patients are expected to eliminate the most common issues that can be treated by their GP first before they are able to get a referral.

 

[Moses1048576]

I've been unable to speak for over two months and referral wait times are so slow :-(

 

[canuck78]

I've been unable to speak for over two months and referral wait times are so slow :-(

What do you mean unable to speak? Fully unable to speak/whisper due to fully paralyzed vocal cords?