Wait Times

What is a wait time?

A wait time is the amount of time you have to wait for your assessment or surgery to be completed. Your wait time is measured from the time your assessment or surgery is booked until the time you receive it.

What is a wait list?

A wait list is a list of people who need special medical care such as hip or knee joint replacement surgery.

How long will I wait?

How long you have to wait depends on:

• How serious your illness is. Patients with illnesses that are not considered life threatening may wait longer. The hospital's operating room will be used for more serious cases first.
• How many other patients your surgeon has to treat. Some surgeons have shorter wait times than others for a variety of reasons.

To find out wait times information, by surgery, go to the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care website for Ontario Wait Times.

MSK CIAC Assessment

Hip and knee assessments will take place at Assessment Centres located in Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington and Niagara. Patients will be booked for an assessment at the location closest to their home. Patients also have the choice of first available assessment at any of the locations within the region.
If needed, a consultation appointment will be made for the patient with an orthopedic surgeon. Patients will have the option of choosing the first available surgeon, a surgeon of choice or a specific hospital that they would prefer to visit. Depending on your choice, it may mean traveling to another city within the region.