Half of Canadians Say Long Wait Times Keep Them From Care

You feel awful, but you picture the waiting room, the hours, and the plastic chair, and you decide to ride it out at home. According to a new poll, you are far from alone in making that call.

Half of Canadians say they have avoided going to a hospital or seeing a doctor because they did not believe they would get timely treatment, according to a Léger poll reported by The Canadian Press. The Montreal Economic Institute, SecondStreet.org, and the Canadian Constitution Foundation commissioned the online survey of 1,510 Canadians, which ran from Oct. 16 to 19. The Canadian Press describes all three groups as right-leaning think tanks. The findings land as long wait times remain one of the most common frustrations with Canadian health care.

Key takeaways

Half of the 1,510 people surveyed said they have avoided a doctor or hospital because they did not expect timely care.

Avoiding care was most common among women, people over 55, and Quebecers.

Just over a quarter said they have paid for private care to avoid waits or service they considered unsatisfactory.

Sixty-one percent supported paying out of pocket or through insurance when the public system cannot deliver timely care, while a quarter opposed mixing public and private systems.

Pharmacists, 811 nurse lines, walk-in clinics, and virtual care can handle many problems faster than an emergency department.

Who is most likely to stay home?

The share of people who stay home instead of seeking care was highest among women, people over 55, and Quebecers, according to The Canadian Press. Those groups overlap with many of the people who most need regular care, from aging patients with ongoing conditions to the caregivers who juggle everyone else's appointments.

The waits behind those choices are familiar, from crowded emergency departments to the millions of Canadians who do not have a family doctor. Our report on why specialist wait times feel endless shows how the delays stack up once a referral is made.

What did the poll find about private care?

The poll also asked about private care, an area where Canadians are divided. Just over a quarter of respondents said they have paid for private health care to avoid wait times or service they considered unsatisfactory. Sixty-one percent said they support being able to pay out of pocket or use insurance for private care when they cannot get timely care in the public system. About a quarter opposed public and private systems existing side by side.

A large majority, 84 percent, said the health care system in their area needs to change. How to fix waits, and what role private care should play, remains under active debate among governments, health care organizations, and advocacy groups.

The findings also come with important limits. The poll does not show whether people who avoided a doctor turned to a nurse or a pharmacist instead, or whether the avoidance happened in the past year or much earlier. The Canadian Research Insights Council also notes that online panels cannot be assigned a margin of error, because they do not randomly sample the population.

Most everyday problems have a faster front door than the emergency department

Why can skipping care backfire?

Whatever your view on the policy questions, the most immediate concern is a personal one, because skipping care can be risky. Some health problems get harder to treat the longer they go, and symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, confusion, or a high fever in an older adult should never wait because of a lineup. Our guide to choosing between urgent care and the ER helps you sort out which door fits.

Where can you get help faster?

Avoiding care entirely is often not the only alternative to a long hospital wait. Many problems that send people to emergency departments, such as minor infections, sprains, rashes, or prescription renewals, can be handled faster at places where long wait times are far less likely.

In many provinces, pharmacists can now assess and prescribe for a range of common minor ailments. Provincial health lines, usually reached by dialing 811 and including Ontario's Health811 and HealthLink BC, connect you with a registered nurse who can help you decide how urgently you need to be seen. Our guide to what the 811 health line actually does explains how to get help faster through it.

Walk-in clinics and virtual care can cover a lot of day-to-day needs, and our guides to what a walk-in clinic can treat and getting care without a family doctor cover both. Checking wait times before you leave home can save hours.

How do you make a plan before you are sick?

Figure out your options and make a plan before you are sick, not while you are lying on the couch with a fever. These steps take about 15 minutes and can save you a wasted afternoon later.

Save your health line. Put your province's health line number in your phone so you can call a nurse when you are unsure.

Ask your pharmacist what they treat. Find out which minor ailments and renewals your local pharmacist can handle in your province.

Map your nearest options. Look up the walk-in clinics and virtual care services near you, including which ones post wait times.

Write down what you have been putting off. List any checkup, test, or nagging symptom you have delayed, then start with the fastest door that fits.

Never wait out an emergency. For chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness, or confusion, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department, however long the wait.

Frequently asked questions

Why do so many Canadians avoid seeing a doctor?

In the new Léger poll, half of respondents said they have avoided a doctor or hospital because they did not expect timely treatment. Crowded emergency departments, long waits for specialists, and the millions of Canadians without a family doctor all play a part. Many people do not know about faster options such as pharmacists or 811 nurse lines.

What can a pharmacist treat in Canada?

In many provinces, pharmacists can assess and prescribe for common minor ailments, such as some skin conditions and uncomplicated bladder infections, and renew many prescriptions. The list of services varies by province, so ask your local pharmacist what they can handle. They can also tell you when a problem needs a doctor instead.

When should you go to the ER despite long wait times?

Go to the nearest emergency department or call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness or numbness, confusion, severe bleeding, or a high fever in an older adult. Long wait times at the hospital should never stop you from getting help for a true emergency, because these symptoms can become life-threatening quickly.

Your next step

If the wait has been keeping you from care, a faster door is often closer than you think. The Medimap Health Hub has more on getting care in Canada, and you can compare walk-in clinics near you, with wait times where clinics post them.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a doctor or other qualified health professional who knows your history. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.