2025 Specialist Waitlist Survey
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Today, we would like to share the results of the 2025 collaborative survey between BC Family Doctors, Doctors of BC, and Consultant Specialists of BC. The data highlights that many British Columbians are currently waiting for specialist care, and the number has increased by 10% over the past year.
Eighty percent of specialists believe patients do not have proper access to specialist consultation. This waiting period can be challenging for family doctors, emergency departments and patients simultaneously, leading to additional follow-up visits and an increasing administrative burden. More than a third of surveyed specialists have either stopped accepting new referrals or plan to do so soon due to overwhelming waitlist volumes.
While the new Physician Main Agreement includes measures to address some of the underlying pressures contributing to waitlists, we see further opportunities in ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Health on:
- Supporting team-based care
- Providing new tools for managing and minimizing waitlists
- Implementing the Specialist Waitlist Management Proposal
- Expanding the specialist training programs and increasing residency spaces
We appreciate everyone who participated in this survey. Thank you for the continuous care you provide to patients. BC Family Doctors and our partners will use these valuable insights to enhance joint efforts with the government, working together toward bringing better benefits to our healthcare system across the province.