A new public opinion poll suggests that most Ontarians are facing lengthy delays for specialist appointments and diagnostic tests, a situation that is causing stress for patients and potentially putting their health at risk.
The survey, conducted by Abacus Data and released Tuesday, found that 70 per cent of respondents waited longer than three months to see a specialist or receive a diagnostic test. Of those, 33 per cent reported waits of more than six months, while another 37 per cent said they waited between three and six months.
By comparison, Ontario Health guidelines state that patients with non-emergent conditions should typically wait between two and 28 days for a diagnostic scan, depending on the urgency of their case.
The findings echo broader national concerns. Data released earlier this year by the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that diagnostic imaging wait times across Canada remain longer than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The poll was funded by the Ontario College of Family Physicians, which represents more than 18,000 family physicians and medical students across the province. The organization is urging the government to implement a centralized referral system that would allow family doctors to electronically manage patient referrals and prioritize cases based on medical urgency.
According to the survey, 95 per cent of respondents support such a modernized approach. The Ontario Medical Association also called for a similar system in 2023.
Abacus Data surveyed 1,500 Ontario residents online between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27.
The Canadian Research Insights Council, the polling industry’s professional body, notes that online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not rely on random sampling of the population.