Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I make an appointment?

A: In order to be seen a referral needs to be sent by another doctor. If you are not sure if you have been referred please call the office during business hours and we can check for you.

Q: What is the wait time for appointments/consultations?

A: Your wait time will depend on why you need to be seen. If you have a less urgent problem it may take months to be seen. This is so that more urgent things like cancers can be seen very quickly. If you have been referred and your symptoms are rapidly worsening please call the referring doctor’s office so that they can update us on your status.

Q: What is the wait time for surgery?

A: Surgical wait time targets for each diagnosis and procedure are set by the British Columbia Ministry of Health. Once you and your surgeon have decided on a surgical plan, your surgeon will submit a booking package to the OR Booking Office at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC). The ability to perform surgery is impacted by staffing (cleaners, nursing, anesthesiologists, etc.), physical space (operating rooms, hospital beds), and many other resources (such as having access to the right equipment in hospital for your surgery), and UHNBC is currently experiencing severe shortages in many of these areas. In order to take into account all of these factors, the hospital is in control of which surgeons get to do surgery on which day, and which patients get to have surgery on which dates. If you have already been seen by one of our surgeons, and are waiting for surgery, and your symptoms are rapidly worsening, please call our office during business hours to let us know.

Q: Why am I being sent for an endoscopic procedure?

A: Some patients do not need to be seen until the day of their endoscopic procedure. This streamlines referrals and gets you to procedure sooner; however, you can request to have an in-person consultation first. Please call the office during business hours to arrange.

Q: What happens after surgery/endoscopy?

A: You will be provided instructions on the day of surgery/day of discharge from hospital about wound care, diet, activity, and scheduling your follow-up visit. If you have just had a procedure and are unsure what to do please call the office during business hours and we will help you out.

Q: How do I get my insurance/disability paperwork filled out?

A: Please bring insurance/disability paperwork to the office or send it to us by fax. Please note that most forms will have areas that you are required to complete yourself, and some that your surgeon will be required to complete.