Letter: The frustrations of not having a family doc

Recently, I saw an article in Northern Life, telling the public of three doctors who are accepting patients.

Today, I called to see if they were still accepting patients and if I could get my family a family doctor, as my family recently moved to this area from Bolton, Ont.

I was informed that they are accepting patients, but only through Ontario Health. This is a huge loophole for families who have medical issues and disabilities.

I explained that I had a family doctor in Bolton, but did not want to give him up until I was certain I had a family doctor here in Sudbury.

I explained that, as a person who has a multitude of medical issues, I require seeing a doctor sometimes more frequently. Plus having two children with Fragile X Syndrome, it is scary to give up our doctor with no guarantees we will have a doctor here.

She said that there are walk-in clinics in the interim.

I explained that my daughter and son are on medications that are a narcotic, and without a doctor, they would not have access to their medications at a walk-in clinic, as they do not prescribe narcotics.

I tried to register with Ontario Health when I moved here, but when they realized I had a doctor in Bolton, I was given another telephone number to call.

This number gave me a list of all the doctors in Sudbury and they told me to make calls to see which doctors were accepting patients. I started this process, but I was calling doctors that were specialists, not family doctors.

I do not feel that as a resident of Greater Sudbury I should be treated any differently then someone who is registered with Ontario Health. I would gladly give up the family doctor in Bolton if I were able to have a doctor here in Sudbury.

Rosalee Laurin
Hanmer