The results from a recent survey of BC’s specialist physicians about the length and size of their waitlists exposes a growing crisis that is negatively impacting the health of British Columbians and causing moral distress and frustration for specialist physicians.

Initiated by Consultant Specialists of BC and Doctors of BC, nearly 1,000 specialist physicians shared feedback in late 2024 on the impact waitlists are having on them and their patients. The results show that, right now, approximately 1.2 million patients are waiting for consultation appointments with a specialist, which will be further compounded by additional wait times for subsequent diagnostic procedures, treatments, and surgeries.

This is untenable and unsustainable. For at least two years, Doctors of BC and Consultant Specialists of BC had been in active discussion with the provincial government, advocating for tangible change—however progress has now stalled, while the urgency of the crisis continues to grow.

Care delays and physician burnout 

The survey shows that specialist waitlists are chronically overloaded, averaging 282 patients, while the wait times themselves cause considerable anxiety to patients and doctors alike: four weeks for urgent cases, 10 weeks for semi-urgent cases, and up to 10 months for non-urgent cases. 

Specialists are also in danger of burnout, with 70% of those surveyed reporting increased workloads due to their expanding waitlists—and just 11% of specialists confident that patients in BC currently have adequate access to care. 

Continued action and collaboration needed to build real solutions

The survey results paint a concerning picture of specialist care in the province, and Doctors of BC and Consultant Specialists of BC are calling on the provincial government to commit to funding the Specialist Waitlist Initiative and implementing solutions including:

  • Modernizing waitlist management systems.
  • Expanding team-based specialist care.
  • Introducing flexible payment models to support patient care.
  • Investing in specialist training and recruitment.
  • Enhancing rural outreach and providing resources for overburdened clinics

Learn more in the full news release or read our survey results one-pager. If you have any questions, please email contact@doctorsofbc.ca.