Referrals and Wait Times
Families and caregivers will find information here about getting a referral to our services for care and how we manage wait times. Health-care providers do their utmost to see patients as soon as possible.
Referrals
To access many services at BC Children’s Hospital, a child or youth needs a referral from their health-care provider. This may be a doctor, nurse practitioner, or another clinician who works in a hospital or in your community.
When a BC Children’s Hospital service receives a referral for your child or youth, it is carefully reviewed by experts.
They review many details, including:
- urgency of the issue(s)
- symptoms, and changes to symptoms over time
- other diseases or conditions your child or youth may have
- tests or procedures already completed
They use this information to determine how quickly your child or youth may be seen by a doctor or other member of the care team at BC Children’s Hospital.
Wait times
BC Children’s Hospital staff do their utmost to see patients as soon as possible. We understand waiting for care can cause distress for the patients and families we serve.
The wait times for BC Children’s Hospital services vary depending on the number of patients waiting for or receiving care, and the complexity of patients' health issues, among other factors.
Experts review every referral carefully to ensure all children receive care at the right time. Wait time may be longer for some children, as schedules are based on urgency.
Scheduling an appointment
Once a clinic or service has an available appointment, in most cases, you will hear from them directly. They will coordinate the date and time of your child’s appointment for that specific clinic.
Your child’s condition changes
If your child or youth’s condition changes, for example their symptoms worsen, speak to the health-care provider who referred them to BC Children’s Hospital. They may update your child or youth’s referral. This could impact their wait time.
For medical emergencies, never delay in seeking care. Call 9-1-1 or visit your nearest emergency department.
Note: Visiting the emergency department if your child does not require this level of care will not reduce your wait time for other BC Children’s Hospital services. Our emergency department cannot expedite referrals if your child or youth’s condition has not changed.
Preparing for your appointment
Once you have a confirmed appointment, visit our Before Your Visit section. You will find details on what to pack and how to prepare ahead of your time at BC Children’s Hospital.
Visit the Clinics and Services section for further details about the service your child or youth has been referred to, and what you can expect during your appointment.
Appointment cancellations
If you need to cancel or postpone your child or youth’s appointment, please give the clinic or service as much notice as possible. This will allow them to give your appointment time to another patient and family who are waiting for care. They will also help you to re-schedule your child or youth's appointment.