I live in Edmonton, ab.  This is the city where  people who wish to be on HTR on the waiting list before you can see a doctor.   In fact, I am still on the waiting list. I've been seeing a doctor who is in US for the past two years after I went through the proper channel (therapist, clean bill of health before he prescribe the HRT prescription to me).  Everything is going quite well for me but flying back and forth every few months is a bit tiresome after a while.  My questions for any girls who lives in Canada  and currently seeing the doctor is this. Do you know any doctors who is willing to accept me a their patient without making me wait for two years....I am already on HRT regimen for the past two year...and I have all the required paperwork.. If you do, can you provide me some information about that doctor, please?
Thank you.

I know there are a few girls in Alberta Edmonton and Calgary area here.

I guess you asked your GP and the turned you down?

How about asking a few endos?

If you have your letters and been on stable HRT for 2 years you should not have to start over again.

I think that her problem is with the national health care system. From my understanding of that system there is always a waiting period for getting even necessary medical care. Maybe she can confirm if that is the case.

mrs izzy: 
Yes, I have asked my family doctor. He turned me down because he wasn't too comfortable to prescribe anything since transgender isn't his specialty. I will google to find out the endos in my city. Thank you so much for letting me know about that.
mac1:
You are right on national health care. The bad side of the system is you have to get your own doctor's referral before you can see any specialist. My doctor sent a letter to see the only doctor who specialized in transgender... but there are too many girls who are waiting to see him... i am sure that i am still on that waiting list.  It is so frustrating.  That was the reason why I am seeing a US for now.   I have no problem to pay it out the pocket...just tired of flying back and forth

Hey ladies .... i was on waiting list for a doc in edmonton and finally seen him went on hormones for a few years ....now after having the srs i apparently had to wait another year to see my regular endocrinologist  ... i asked to be referred to someone in calgary instead and i was booked within a 2 month waiting period now i see him every 3 months .

feel free to message me if you would like his contact info

I am doing the same thing and I live in Ontario - long wait times and crazy backlog. I'll be in my 60's before I can start my HRT.
I am seeing a doctor in Buffalo. But it's a hassle to see her as I have to drive at least two hours to meet her for my appointment.

I am still trying to convince my GP to start prescribing it

I live in Vancouver and starting HRT and finding a doctor was fairly easy. Accepted trans status August this year and started hrt December 6. Finding a doctor only took a week. I called Three Bridges Clinic... Or maybe it was Qmunity.

Idk if moving is an option but at the very least Vancouver should be cheaper to fly to.

From Calgary here.  Also on waiting list.  I flew to Vancouver and had a consult there.  They could not write me a prescription from out of province, so don't do this unless you have a doctor in Alberta to prescribe with direction from the doctor in Vancouver.  Are you on Dr. Raiche's list or Warneke?

Quote from: mac1 on December 23, 2014, 04:45:28 PM
I think that her problem is with the national health care system. From my understanding of that system there is always a waiting period for getting even necessary medical care. Maybe she can confirm if that is the case.

Canada has a health care system?

Each province has their own health care system.  I believe it's mandated by the federal government

I'm not sure if this will help you, but my doctor Blair Voyvodic uses the Ontario Telemedicine Network. I'm in Sudbury ON, and he's in Killaloe, ON. He believes in supporting your goals, as long as you're informed. I'm not sure if he can take patients from Alberta though. You might have better luck looking in BC.

Thank you so much for your help, ladies.   I really appreciate it.

Lana, I cannot send a private message to you.  Not sure it is appropriate to post my email address in here or not. I would like to get your doctor contact information. Who knows, your doctor will accept me as his patient.  Let me know what is the best way to get in touch with you.

Thank you.

lotus. i pm'd u   

Thank you so much, Lana

Another west coast girl here! Came out the beginning of November, Gender therapist, mid December (I was out of country until end of third week of Dec.)  and I see endocrinologist on Friday. I could have got to one in Vancouver a bit sooner but the one I went with is closer to me. It does seem that each province, or region,is different in how long it may take.

Another alberta girl here and still on waiting list for another 1/2 year or so to see werneke.

Saw this and wanted to see what was up and ya its not just the wait just I could get the call like in 6-12 months or something geez could they narrow that down a touch lol.  But really to some degree at least for me it has given me some time to really think of where I am going to yet I can see for others its pure and simple agonizing wait.

As for the health care of Canada vs province its works like this. Most regulations dealing with disease control and general outlines are federal but for the most part the rest is all provincial.

Really at least for me its wait and see what happens and the when part I only vaguely know when It sounds like I should try to find a GP but I might be screwed on that end. Live in a town with major shortage takes about a month to get a doc appointment no kidding. Whatever happens I wish all you canucks the best of a luck and hopefully a shorter wait:) It sounds like a royal pain in the well.

I thought Quebec was hard being most of the therapy will be out of pocket unless you have a good GO that has services with in the clinic

But not so bad seeing how the rest of the country puts the community through.

Sigh!

Quote from: mrs izzy on January 18, 2015, 02:47:35 PM
I thought Quebec was hard being most of the therapy will be out of pocket unless you have a good GO that has services with in the clinic

But not so bad seeing how the rest of the country puts the community through.

Sigh!

My therapist in Nova Scotia's free health care system gatekeepered me for over a year, tried to convince me that I was just a gay bottom, then he promised the HRT letter on my next visit. When I came back,he had retired, his replacement is a Womyn born womyn type, I left crying.
The old therapist was last "Helping" transfolk in B.C., God help them. looking back and thinking about his comments,
I think to get his approval,  I would need to be willing to swallow.