• Health
• Community and Public Health
• Public and Community Health

Where can I get medical help if I don't have a family doctor?

If you do not have a family doctor, you still have healthcare options.

You can get medical help from:

• Walk-in clinics
• Community Health Centres (CHC)
• Pharmacies
• The Health811 service

In an emergency, call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.

Walk-in Medical Clinic

You don't need an appointment to go to a walk-in medical clinic. Some clinics are open in the evening and on weekends.

You need to take your health (OHIP) card with you. You may not be able to see the same doctor every time you go to a clinic.

You may also have to wait to see a doctor or nurse if there are many other patients ahead of you.

To find a walk-in medical clinic in your area:

• Look online to find a walk-in medical clinic in your area.
• Use Health811 to find services in your area. It is run by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and allows you to search by location and type of service.

This helpful list of Tips for your Next Doctor Visit from ABC LifeLiteracy can help you stay focused on your health issues to ensure you get the most out of your consultation.

Community Health Centre (CHC)

You can also go to a Community Health Centre (CHC). CHCs have health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners on staff.

If you do not have OHIP, you might be able to get health care services at a CHC. You can use this locator tool to find a CHC anywhere in Ontario

Health811

You can call Health811 phone service by dialling 811 from any phone. You can also chat online. You can talk to a registered nurse for free any time during the day or night. This service is secure and confidential.

You can ask the registered nurse about health concerns or describe your symptoms. The nurse will help you to decide if you should go to a hospital emergency room, if you can wait to go to a doctor the next day, or if you can look after yourself at home.

This service can be very busy, so they may offer to call you back rather than wait on hold.

In a medical emergency, you should always call 911 immediately.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies fill drug prescriptions and offer medication counselling. Pharmacists can also prescribe or suggest certain treatment options, including some of the most common medical ailments. See all the services offered at pharmacies in the "You and your Pharmacy" guide.  

For More Information

• Your Health - Information and links about your options to get health care in Ontario. It includes a medical services directory of walk-in and after-hours clinics, urgent care centres, and family health care providers. You can search the directory by location and type of services. It is run by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
• TheHealthLine.ca - This website can help you find health and community services in Ontario. From Community Care Access Centres.
• Refugee HealthLine - Call this line (1-866-286-4770) for free to register for help in being connected with a health service provider who can assist with initial medical assessments and referral to other health services. This is not an emergency or crisis line.
• HNUC.org - Health Network for the Uninsured offers information for people without OHIP in the Greater Toronto Area.