Question on Wait Times

If I were any newer, I wouldn't be registered yet.

My GP has agreed to give me a referral for Lap-Band and I know that there are only two surgeons in New Brunswick. I've also read that neither doctor will allow you to wait on both lists.

Does anyone have any idea what the current wait time look like? Thanks! 

Hi there, and welcome to our  board.

Sorry I can't help you with wait times. When I was waiting ,  there was only Dr. B  in Atlantic Canada doing surgeries and he was doing patients from right across Canada too so wait times were really long. The year before I was done , he cut back a lot on outside province  patients so that sped up times and then Dr. S started doing surgeries and then two more doctors began doing them in NS. I know that does nt answer your question but I don't think the wait times are as long as they were back when I started. I got my referral in 2004 and had surgery in 2009. I called in June 2005 and was number 1004 on the wait list to get a consult with Dr. B. At that time he wasn't doing that many a month because the aftercare was taking up a lot of his time.

Others will come soon and be able to give you a better idea of wait times now.

 My GP told me that the wait times had dropped quite a bit, and that they had been excessively long in the past, but he didn't go any further than that.

I guess I'm just looking for a ballpark number.

Even though I know this will be a long process, I'm very eager to begin...I'd better get used to waiting, I suppose.

Thanks for the reply.

My referral went to Dr. Savoie in March 2009. I spoke to the clinic today and they are working on December 2008 right now. She said I wouldn't have a consult this year. I would think that it will be about 3 years from my referral until surgery.

Well I just spoke with Dr. Savoie's clinic.  Nice ladies but I think they are giving some of us the runaround.

She told me that I possibly would not have my initial consult until next year.  But she is thinking it will be sooner.

My referral was sent December 5th and she told me that she hadn't started December yet but she was close.

She told you that they were in December already but told me no.  She said he sees maybe 2 to 4 new patients per week as he has to do fills etc.

So right now, I'm about to give the whole thing up.  I feel duped.

Hey!!

Nice to meet you!

From what I know (and don't quote me here), the wait time for Dr. Beausoleil in Moncton is 5 - 8 years.

For my surgeon, Dr. Savoie in Bathurst, the wait is 3 years last time I heard.

Maybe not the news you want to hear, and I'm sorry but keep posting regardless to stay on track!

 Thank you all for the replies - even if its not the time frame I had anticipated, at least now I know what to expect.

I guess I won't book any time off quite yet...either way, it's all good. 

Dr Savoie's list was a lot shorter than Dr Beausoleil. I would call both offices and ask them. Someone here can give you the numbers.
BTW welcome to our board!

I had my referral sen to Dr. Beausoleil in January 2010.  I was stunned and a bit discouraged when I called the office and found out that the wait was a minimum of 7 years!  When I go see my family physician again next week I am going to ask her to send a referral to Dr. Savoie.  Not sure about the rules regarding being on both lists but how would one know if you were on the list for the other?

Welcome to the board!  It is nice to know I will have someone to wait with!

 I guess my GP was wrong about wait times having gone down.

Thanks for the information everyone - this is a very welcoming forum.