Thousands of Montrealers are waiting for a family doctor. Many have been on a waiting list for 4-5 years – some new to Montreal, others looking for a new doctor after their previous family doctor retired.

This has affected wait times in emergency rooms across Montreal, as not everyone in the emergency room is there for an emergency-related issue, some are there to simply seek a requisition. 

Patients' rights activist, Paul Brunet says wait times were already an issue before the pandemic, but the pandemic has exacerbated this situation. He also said that half of patients in the ER have a family doctor, but they cannot see their doctor in a timely manner, so they have to seek emergency services.

Brunet said 50% of patients in the emergency room don't need to see a doctor for something like a requisition, instead they could see a pharmacist or nurse – but in Montreal and the rest of Quebec, only doctors can provide requisitions

But could a new deal struck by the Quebec government see an end of long wait times and doctor-only requisitions? 

Quebec announced an agreement with the Federation of Family Doctors to provide improved access to front-line care. 

So what does this new deal between the government and family doctors include? 

This will allow those with a family doctor in need of critical care access to their doctor or another between 36 to 72 hours. Those without or still waiting for a family doctor will be able to use an online platform to set them up with a healthcare worker.

The deal is said to provide hundreds of thousands of patients on a waiting list access to a family doctor by March 31, 2023. This has not yet been confirmed, as members of the FMOQ have to ratify the deal. The vote will be held at the end of May.

Bill 11 might create more of a divide, affecting this being ratified. Bill 11 is a legislation which will track the schedules of family doctors, has created a rift between physicians and the government. It is an act to increase the supply of primary care services and improve the management of that supply, according to the National Assembly of Quebec.

Brunet said the accord has not yet agreed to the new deal to provide more access to family doctors, but that Bill 11 could change doctors mentality towards this.

With a provincial election just 6 months away, some worry these are electoral promises to improve our HCS since the pandemic highlighted issues within it.

Brunet said he asked Christian Dubé, the Minister of Health and Social Services if the provincial government will show improvements in waiting times for emergency rooms and improvements in longterm care facilities. Brunet said if they don't, he feels this is an election pitch.