Looking for a Doctor in London? 12,000 Spots Available

Primary care providers in London and nearby areas have almost 12,000 openings for new patients, but not many people are using the province’s system designed to connect patients with care.

This information comes from the head of a team focused on bringing more doctors to the area, as there’s a provincial deadline looming to link every Ontarian with primary care by 2029.

“We’re in this great position where we have 26 doctors and nurse practitioners looking right now for about 12,000 patients,” said Amber Alpaugh-Bishop, executive director for the Middlesex London Ontario Health Team (MLOHT).

“And yet, I only have 700 people on the [Health Care Connect] list. This is a big gap, and people just aren’t aware.”

The province claims it has made progress in connecting Ontarians with care. Earlier this year, Health Minister Sylvia Jones reported that around 275,000 individuals were linked to primary care in the first year aimed at reducing the backlog of those seeking assistance.

Last week, the Ford government announced it would allocate another $15 million to help fulfill its promise in the London area, which they say will assist just over 33,000 individuals.

Even so, demand remains high. The latest data from late 2025 estimated that around 91,000 people were without a family doctor in the London region.

Amber Alpaugh-Bishop photographed outside the CBC London newsroom on May 7, 2026. (Alessio Donnini/)

Alpaugh-Bishop mentioned that number has probably decreased closer to 80,000 as more physicians are recruited.

“We have a primary care physician recruitment program here led by Chantelle Wragg. In the last six months, she has successfully brought eight new primary care physicians into this community and is currently talking with another 21,” Alpaugh-Bishop said.

However, while new doctors keep arriving in the area, potential patients ignoring their preferred method of connecting with these doctors isn’t ideal according to Alpaugh-Bishop.

Discrepanies Between Doctors and Patients

Despite high demand for services, Ontario’s centralized waitlist isn’t being fully utilized locally.

Health Care Connect (HCC) is Ontario’s system for matching patients with available primary care providers. But an auditor general’s report from late-2025 revealed that many clinics were filling their patient slots faster on their own than through HCC.

“I’m trying to tell people-tell your friends-to call 811 if they need a physician. If you work in a hospital or know patients without doctors-tell them to call 811,” Alpaugh-Bishop said.

“I understand that some folks had previous experiences where it took quite some time due to limited physicians and nurse practitioners available; there was registration but no providers ready. That caused delays back then but our situation is completely different now.”

LISTEN | London doctors are looking for patients:

London Morning8:43London doctors are now looking for patients

While thousands of Londoners still lack a family doctor, a recruitment push has ledto new physicians lookingfor patients. Amber Alpaugh-Bishop, theexecutivedirectorforthe Middlesex-London Ontario Health Team, givesanupdateontheirprogress.

Clinics Also Recruiting Patients Directly

Alpauqh-Bishop isn’ttheonlyoneencouraginglocalsto sign upfor Healthcare Connect.

Dan Muldoon, a registeredpracticalnurseanddirectorof Thompson Medical Centre(TMC), statedhisorganizationcurrentlyhasaround3,000openings-a figureexpectedto riseapproximatelyto9 ,000by August.

Theclinic hastakenonsevennewdoctorssinceearly2026.

“I’d definitely encouragepeopleto sign up[for HCC]. It’sa way togeta physician quicker. For us, we think havingtwoapproachesisbest-thatmeans takingpatientsfrom Health Care Connectwhilealso reachingoutourselves,”Muldoon said.

TMCis oneofseveralclinicsrecentlyadvertisingavailablepositionsin doctor rosters.

“Nowisagreattime togainadoctorcomparedtopreviousperiods. Thereare somanyphysiciansandoffices-includingours-acceptingpatientsacross City,”Muldoon stated.

Muldoonsuggestedthoseinsearchofprimarycarekeepan eyeontheinternet-especially local social mediapages.

“Facebook seems likewhere itgets postedmostoften,”hesaid.”Andifsomeone trulycan’tfindadoctornearthem, the Health Care Connectlististhebestalternativeafterthat.”

Source link