Why do I have to wait so long to see you?

We realise that there is an unavoidable wait for non-urgent problems.  There are several reasons for this, but one of the most important is that pain can’t be assessed in a 15, or even 30 minute appointment. Dr Bell spends up to an hour, at times longer, with new patients in order to conduct a thorough, detailed assessment, and put a comprehensive management plan in place.  Because of this, only a limited number of patients can be seen in a day.

What can you do if you feel unable to wait? If your problem is (medically) urgent, your referring Health Professional should discuss your case with Dr Bell. An example is acute sciatica where pain is not controlled.

Alternatively, you could seek referral to a different specialist with a shorter wait time. If you do this, please be sure to let us know so that we can cancel your appointment.