Quebec patient looking to have surgery in Ontario.

I have been approved to have bariatric surgery by my doctor and got referrals for local surgeons. There is a 12 month waiting period just to have an initial consultation. Then the average wait time is anywhere from 1-5 years! I cannot afford to pay private clinic costs (18,500$) and my doctor suggested that I look to doctors in Ottawa (they'll accept my Quebec medicare) and Toronto as well. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge as to wait times, or the out of province experience?

Everyone in Ontario has to be referred to the Bariatric registry then they send the referrals to the centres.  There is a contact information on their site that you could try calling Ottawa to find out if there is something your doctor has to do.

http://www.ontariobariatricnetwork.ca/contact-information

Thank you so much!

If you're able to pick, I'm pretty sure the Toronto hospitals have a slightly better turn around. Welcome aboard!