New study finds one in three Ontarians reported longer specialist wait times this year

TORONTO - More Ontarians are experiencing longer waits to see a specialist, and for some, those waits are pushing them toward emergency departments and walk-in clinics, according to new polling released by the Ontario Medical Association. The findings point to growing pressure on specialist access across the province. 

Today, Ontario Medical Association physicians and leaders are at Queen's Park to call on the provincial government to improve patient care by expanding team-based models to community-based specialists. Ontarians living with chronic and complex conditions are often waiting too long to see a specialist, leading many to seek care in emergency departments and walk-in clinics instead. 

A new Ipsos survey conducted for the OMA found that; 

• One in three Ontarians reported longer specialist wait times over the past year
• Among Ontarians living with a chronic condition, or with a household member who does, 22 per cent waited six months or longer following their most recent specialist referral
• For those waiting for a specialist appointment related to a chronic condition affecting themselves or a household member, 35% said the delay led to a visit to an emergency department or walk-in clinic when asked about their most recent referral

Rising overhead, administrative burden and staffing shortages are making independent practice harder to sustain, contributing to longer waits and wider geographic gaps as the population ages.  

We urge the provincial government to continue expanding central intake systems across Ontario. 

Physicians must be partners in the design, implementation and evaluation of these systems to ensure they improve access, reduce wait times, and deliver better outcomes for patients. 

“Behind every one of these numbers is a patient waiting for a diagnosis, a treatment or a plan,” said Dr. Rebecca Hicks, president of the Ontario Medical Association. “When specialist care takes longer to reach, people end up seeking help wherever they can find it, including in emergency departments.  

"Timely access to care should not depend on where you live or how long you're willing to wait." 

Dr. Hicks spoke at a media briefing at Queen's Park this morning, accompanied by Drs. Zainab Abdurrahman, Ken Milne, Jane Purvis and Tania Tajirian. Watch the full briefing.

About the OMA   

The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario’s 50,000-plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario’s health-care system.  

For more information, please contact:  

OMA Media Relations 
media@oma.org