"I've seen various posts, etc. suggesting a "family doctor crisis" in Fredericton. One site (I can't recall where) advised to get on a waiting list as soon as you know you're moving to Fredericton. Yikes! What is your sense of how bad this situation is? We're moving to Fredericton, in 2008, with our son who will be seven and, though he has no chronic medical concerns, we want to be sure we have a doctor to contact if he takes ill, etc.
Thank you so much for your time, Best, Melissa"
13 comments:
I think this is a "better safe than sorry" situation, Im not sure how bad it is because Ive had my doctor since I moved here in 2002 and she took on my son, but I think that it would be a good idea to put your name on a list in case you need it.
Thanks! Now, this may not be deemed appropriate for the forum so it's okay if the administrator wants to say so. But... any dr. recommendations? I found a site that lists drs in the area, but that's just picking a name "out of a hat." If all goes according to plan, we will most likely be living downtown. And, if anyone cares to email me off-blog, I can be reached at 2moms2canada@gmail.com. Thanks so much!
LOL for sure. I don't see a problem with suggesting names!
I have Dr McIntosh and I really like her, theres another really young woman doctor that I saw in the hospital covering for her, I dont know her name but she was very nice. And Dr Al Sherrief (spelling??) theres 2 od them, I liked and the other I didnt, the one I liked was shorter, and the other guy wore a thing on his head (what are they called??), Im not sure what their first names are but maybe someone else does.
This is coming from a nurse who works here, and let me tell you...the family doctor crisis is real and it's only going to get worse. We have TONS of GP residents who come through our hospital year after year and VERY few of them take up practice here. If you put your name on that waiting list, you're going to be on it for a while...probably at LEAST 6 months to a year if you're lucky. The doctors here are burnt out between their practices, hospital rounds, ER duty and after hours clinic duty and recently there have been 4 doctors who have left their practice or who are about to retire and only 2 of them have had new doctors take over their practices. Your only chance, unless you personally know the doctor, of getting a family doctor in this city at the moment is getting on that waiting list as soon as you possibly can. Unfortunately, choosing which doctor you would like is not really an option because people are taken off the list and assigned to their new doctor as soon as a spot opens up in their practice. If you're choosy about who you want, you're going to wait even longer and may never get in to that particular doctor you want. I will say though, that I have personally worked with just about every family doctor in the city and about 98% of them are excellent doctors. There are a few that I wouldn't recommend anyone I know to see, but if you're stuck for a doctor, you're stuck for a doctor.
I know that when my husband and I moved here a few years ago they told me to go on the waiting list as well...and about 9mths later I was put with a doctor. I got put with Dr. Heather Logan in Fredericton and she seems really great, and both my boys really like her.
Thanks for all the info. I guess the next logical question is... how does one get on a list? Is there "a" list for each dr/office or "the" list for the city? Sorry to sound clueless, but I am. Thanks, again!
BTW, if one doesn't have a family doctor, what are the options if one is taken ill?
There's just one list and when an available spot comes up with a family doctor in the area, the next person on the list goes to that doctor. Like I said, it doesn't really pay to be choosy when you're on the wait list because you may never get in to a specific doctor. They don't have their own wait lists. What you do is call this number 1-866 554 5959 and they will put you on the list. Then when a spot comes up and you're next on the list, you get in.
In the meantime, there are a couple of after hours clinics in the city. One at the Fredericton Medical Clinic on Regent St (Shoppers building) and the Brookside Clinic (beside the Brookside mall on Brookside Dr on the northside). There is also a clinic in New Maryland just outside the city (past Regent Mall). Or there is the Chalmer's ER or the Oromocto ER.
Oh I also wanted to mention too about the telecare line. It's listed in the front of the phone book and manned by nurses who will give you an idea if your condition needs to be seen urgently or not.
There is also a clinic on Prospect Street where Pharmasave is. It is fairly new, it is in Dr. Lam's office.
Ouuuu yes, I have called telecare a number of times. If they can diagnose what is going on, they do offer some good advice. :) 1.800.244.8353
Thanks so much, that's very helpful!
You're Welcome girl!
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