How to get referral without a doctor (Durham Region)

Hello! I had a doctor my entire life and he's just retired in April. Unfortunately I'm in an area where it's extremely difficult to find a family doctor taking new patients so I'm left without a PCP.

I don't have any other doctors or specialists that I see so I can't go that route.

i have seen people say you can try a walk in clinic... but how successful is that? How would I go about bringing this up with the doctor? Does anyone know of a doctor who would be approachable?

I'm in Bowmanville (Durham Region) and the nearest walk in clinics are both not the greatest, every doctor I've encountered there barely listens and shoos you off as quickly as possible.

No matter what, even if you manage to get a referral without a Family Doctor, you will have to have a Family Doctor for follow ups and all kinds of things after surgery. The link below is a directory of Doctors in your area. Some are accepting new patients. You can also contact the College of Doctors and Surgeons and find lists of Doctors that are accepting new patients in your area.

Give this a whirl because you really need a Family Doctor to get through this process. You will require longterm follow ups for the rest of your life. You can't do this alone.

https://www.ontariodoctordirectory.ca/Bowmanville

Good Luck.

Thank you! How do you know which ones are accepting new patients? I don't see that on the link you sent. Unless I have to explore that website more?

I'm not entirely sure. You may have to just start calling. I googled Doctors accepting new patients in Bowmanville and that's what came up. My family used this website when my nephew moved to Innisfil and needed to get hooked up with a Family Doctor. I know that it's a tough go in a lot of places to find a good Family Doctor.

No matter what, whether you proceed with a referral or not, you need a GP.

Good Luck.

Thank you very much!

Call your local medical society. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

There's a program in Ontario called "Health Care Connect" that will help you find a family doctor. https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-prac titioner#section-1