Finding a family doc in London

If you have a family doctor, count your blessings!  Despite all the jolly news the Liberals spout about how they are addressing the shortages, it's still VERY tough!

Here's what I have learned:

Health Care Connect: Health Care Connect helps Ontarians who are without a family health care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner) to find one. People without a family health care provider are referred to a family doctor or a nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in their community.
So, I called Health Care Connect, to find out how this system works.  (Call me a cynic, but it sounded too good to be true)  I was told that there is no guarantee that this system will find you a doctor, but registrants are put on a list according to priority.  So if  you are registering, make certain to list every single problem from scalp to toenails.  If you have already registered, you can call and update your file if you left out any health problems.

The London & District Academy of Medicine keeps an updated list of doctors accepting applications for new patients.  Expect to be treated with suspicion when you call the GateKeepers (aka: the doc's support staff) to inquire about application. I suspect this has to do with the staffs' already feeling overwhelmed, and fear that new patients mean further strain on the resources of the practice. This is just my opinion I will have to do some more study into this.

The Academy provides this further advice on finding a family doctor:
"London, like many cities and towns in Ontario, does not have enough family doctors. Very few are taking new patients. From time to time, the Academy becomes aware of new doctors in the London area and can help patients by providing names and contact information. If there are not any doctors on our list, then a number of strategies can be tried to locate a family doctor.
(1) Ask your friends or relatives if they will recommend you to their doctor.
(2) If your doctor has retired or moved, he or she may have made arrangements for another doctor to help care for their patients.
(3) Attend a walk-in clinic. If you see the same doctor a few times there, they may agree to see you as a regular patient in their practice.
(4) Try the Yellow Pages under "Physicians and Surgeons" and call as many as you can to obtain care. If you require urgent care, the emergency departments of the hospitals will, of course, see you."
http://www.ldam.ca/InformationCentre/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/tabid/37/Default.aspx

I should probably expain why this particular MOHLTC news release  was a serious disappointment to me. 

1. You'll notice, the Family Health Team isn't named

2. The Family Health Team is NOT taking 10,000 patients, as touted in the news release. The GateKeeper told me that they were accepting a much, much, MUCH lower number than this, and that would be over the length of a year, and patients would be chosen by lottery. (she claimed this was as per College policy....uh...really?)

3. The Family Health Team's GateKeeper would NOT fax me an application form, stating that applicants must come in to the office (which is NOT centrally located) even though I used my best social-worky skills to advocate for people who are impoverished, and the bus fare would be a financial hardship to travel out to the clinic to 'enter a lottery', or have disabilities which limit ability to access transportation. 

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario does have a policy around new patients.  Here is the most salient part:

Physicians who are able to accept new patients into their practice should use a first-come, first-served approach.

It is not appropriate for physicians to screen potential patients because it can compromise public trust in the profession, especially at a time when access to care is a concern. Screening may also result in discriminatory actions against potential patients.

Physicians must abide by the Ontario Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination on the following grounds: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation (which includes gender identity and expression), age, marital status, family status, and disability. The Human Rights Code applies to the provision of all services, including medical care. Failure to abide by the Human Rights Code may result in a proceeding before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. It may also result in disciplinary action before the College.

Here's the Policy Statement from the CPSO.