How long does it take to see a doctor at a Sask. walk-in clinic? Data shows wait times on the rise
With more family doctors shutting their doors, patients are turning to walk-in clinics, according to a medical technology company.
Medimap is a platform that works with clinics to publish their wait times online. The company has found wait times are on the rise.
In 2022, Medimap found patients in Saskatchewan waited an average of 51 minutes to see a doctor at a walk-in clinic — 20 minutes longer than in 2021.
Teddy Wickland, the vice president of operations for Medimap, said a lack of doctors and more patients are the two main factors driving longer wait times.
“We're hearing, frankly, horror stories, just in terms of how busy [doctors] are and how hard it is for them to do their jobs effectively, given the current environment,” Wickland told CTV News.
“The life of a walk-in clinic provider is difficult. You're operating in five-minute increments all day … A lot of providers are disheartened by that because they got into medicine to build relationships with patients, to keep patients healthy, and they're not able to do that in the current environment because there's so much of a strain on the very few providers that actually exist.”
(Medimap)
The data found Regina had the fastest turnaround time to see a physician at 39 minutes, while Moose Jaw was the slowest at 78 minutes.
“There are many factors that affect the waiting times at walk-in clinics, including the number of physicians available, patient load, complexity of cases and emergencies taking priority,” the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan wrote in a statement to CTV News.
The college said it is not involved in physician recruitment or training, but recognized “there is an undersupply of physicians in all areas of Canada.”
Meanwhile, the province said the number of general practitioners is increasing in Saskatchewan.
There were 965 active general practitioners in 2021-2022, according to the Ministry of Health. In 2020-2021, there were 900.
A spokesperson for the ministry said the province is prioritizing strategies to enhance physician recruitment and retention, including dedicating $3.5 million to the efforts in the latest budget.
Nationally, Saskatchewan’s wait time is average. Medimap found patients in Nova Scotia had to wait the longest at 83 minutes and Ontario had to wait the least at 25 minutes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.