clinic

Understanding wait times

Getting health care can sometimes mean long wait times. When the number of patients trying to access care is higher than the number of available appointments or other resources, you may be put on a wait list.

On-campus services

Available at the Student Health and Wellness Centre
nurses

Physical health appointments

Appointment release: 2 weeks ahead of time 

*Appointments will not display on the web portal or CHR Connect app if there are no appointments available. Please visit the Health Care - When and Where page for alternative options.  

*At the Student Health and Wellness Centre, appointments with a psychiatrist are only available by referral. Depending on your needs, the wait is currently 8 months or more.

Please note that a limited number of appointments will be released via the web-application every morning (at 8am), Monday to Friday for minor emergencies. Appointments will be given on a first come first served basis.  

Available at the Student Health and Wellness Centre
counseling

Mental health appointments

Initial consultation regarding mental health must be made through the Mental Health Intake. Appointments are available 4 days in advance, and limited number of same day appointments are released (Monday-Friday)

Appointments will not display on the web portal or CHR Connect app if there are no appointments available. Please visit the Getting Help page for alternative options.  

*At the Student Health and Wellness Centre, appointments with a psychologist are only available by referral from a health care provider. Depending on your needs, the wait is currently 8 months or more.  

Available at the Student Health and Wellness Centre
phep

Personalized health education

These appointments are only available via referral from a health professional within the Student Health and Wellness Centre. 

Appointments are usually bookable within  2 to 3 weeks of the request.  

Learn more
Available at the Student Health and Wellness Centre
case management

Student support team – Case management

  • Following a referral, the Student Support team will reach out within 3 business days.  
  • An appointment is set up with the student based on their availability (usually within the next week). 
Learn more

Off-campus services

nurse

Visiting the emergency department

Depending on your needs, you may wait 5 hours or more to first be assessed by a doctor or nurse practitioner in the emergency department. After the initial assessment, you may need to wait for tests or care. Visit the Health Care – When and Where? page to discover other options for care based on your needs.  

To learn more and to see the average wait times of different locations in your area, visit the Government of Ontario’s Time spent in the emergency department page.  

medical imagery

Getting diagnostic imaging (CT and MRI) 

Depending on your needs, you may wait between 4 days and 4 months to get an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test and between 1 day and 6 months for a computerized tomography (CT) scan. 

To learn more and to see the average wait times of different locations in your area, visit the Government of Ontario’s Wait times for diagnostic imaging page.  

doctor

Seeing a specialist or getting surgery

Depending on your needs, you may wait up to 5 months or more to see a specialist or to get a surgery.  

To learn more and to see the average wait times of different locations in your area, visit the Government of Ontario’s Wait times to see a specialist and for surgery page.  

For more information on off-campus wait times, visit the Government of Ontario’s Wait Times in Ontario webpage. 

Tips to reduce wait times