Finding a Family Doctor

Family doctors play an important role in our healthcare system as the first point of contact for most patients. As the “keeper of the chart”, a family doctor maintains the broadest view of a patient’s health and interactions with the healthcare system.

Family doctors assess, diagnose, and treat patients themselves. They also refer patients for tests, procedures, and for consultations with specialists. In New Brunswick, patient cannot seek a consultation with a specialist physician without a referral from a family doctor.

Finding a family physician who is accepting new patients can be challenging. Like many other jurisdictions in Canada, there are not enough physicians in New Brunswick to serve the patient population.

The Province of New Brunswick maintains a list of New Brunswick patients without a family doctor. When a new family physician enters practice or a practicing physician can take on more patients, they consult this list.

To be placed on the list of New Brunswick residents without a family doctor, call 1-866-554-5959.

Other strategies for finding a family doctor

• Use the telephone book. Family physician practices are listed in the yellow pages under “Physicians and Surgeons”. Ask if they are accepting new patients or if they maintain a wait list.
• Ask your friends and family members.
• Watch the newspapers for announcements of new physicians moving to the community