LIVING IN OTTAWA
Healthcare in Ottawa: Hospitals and Finding a Family Doctor
Last updated: October 2026 · Part of our Living in Ottawa guide
To get healthcare in Ottawa as a newcomer, apply for your Ontario health card (OHIP) in person at a ServiceOntario centre, then register with Health Care Connect by calling 811 or online to be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. Ontario no longer has a waiting period for OHIP. Finding a family doctor can still take time, so it’s worth knowing your options for walk-in, virtual and after-hours care in the meantime.
This guide covers each step, the city’s hospitals and how healthcare can factor into where you buy.
Step One: Get Your Ontario Health Card
According to Ontario’s OHIP page:
- There’s no longer a waiting period. If you’re eligible, coverage is immediate.
- You must apply in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
- Bring three original documents: one proving citizenship or eligible immigration status, one proving Ontario residency and one proving identity. Photocopies aren’t accepted.
- Residency rules: you must make Ontario your primary place of residence and be physically present for at least 153 days in any 12-month period.
Your new address appears on your health card, and Health Care Connect uses that address to match you with a clinician. Apply as soon as you have proof of your Ottawa address, such as a lease, a closing statement or a utility bill.
How Hard Is It to Find a Family Doctor in Ottawa?
Harder than in many parts of Ontario, though the situation is improving. A City of Ottawa staff report found that more than 165,000 Ottawa residents had no family doctor or nurse practitioner in 2022, and staff believe the number has grown since, CBC News reported. Local estimates put the shortfall at about 270 family physicians, according to Kanata–Stittsville councillor Glen Gower.
Both the province and the City are responding:
- Province: Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan aims to connect everyone who wants one to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029. In March 2026, the province reported about 330,000 people newly connected in 2025–26 and a Health Care Connect waitlist cut by more than 87% since January 2025, with a goal of clearing it by June 2026.
- City: In October 2025, council approved a family doctor recruitment strategy that includes a primary care “recruitment ambassador”, according to CBC News.
- West end: Council also moved ahead with a proposed primary care health hub on City-owned land at 1655 Maple Grove Road in Stittsville, near the Canadian Tire Centre. It still needs provincial funding, and staff were to report back by mid-2026. Check with the ward office for the latest status.
Finding a Family Doctor in Ottawa
Register With Health Care Connect
Health Care Connect is Ontario’s program for matching people with a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team. According to the province:
- Register online or by calling 811 (TTY: 711), 24 hours a day.
- You’ll need your contact information and a valid Ontario health card number. Basic health information is optional but helps with matching.
- You can register your whole family, in English or French.
- A Care Connector searches for a clinician accepting new patients in your community, and people with greater health needs are matched first.
- When a match is found, you get a referral letter and the clinician contacts you for a first appointment.
Ontario notes that joining doesn’t guarantee a clinician will be found right away. Register as soon as you have your health card.
Other Ways to Find a Doctor
- Ask around. Neighbours, coworkers and community Facebook groups often hear first when a local clinic opens to new patients.
- Check the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s doctor search, which shows each physician’s practice location and registration status.
- Look into community health centres, which offer primary care in several Ottawa neighbourhoods, often with a focus on particular communities.
- Ask your employer. Some benefits plans include virtual care.
Get Alerts When Clinics Open to New Patients
Clinics that open their rosters often fill within days. DocAlerts (docalerts.ca) is a free email service that notifies you when family practices near your postal code start accepting patients. Some MPP constituency offices also publish community lists of Ottawa clinics taking new patients, such as this list from MPP Karen McCrimmon’s office. Lists go out of date quickly, so always call the clinic to confirm.
Know Your Rights at a New Clinic
According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, you can’t be charged for OHIP-insured services, including booking an appointment or getting a specialist referral, and no one can sell you faster access. Clinics may charge for uninsured services, such as sick notes and forms, and may offer an optional annual block fee, but a doctor must not refuse to take you on, or stop treating you, because you decline it.
Care While You Wait
Until you have a family doctor:
- Health811: call 811 or visit Health811 for free health advice from a registered nurse and help finding services nearby, 24 hours a day.
- Walk-in clinics: available across the city, though hours and wait times vary.
- Pharmacists: Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe for a number of common minor ailments. Ask your pharmacist what they can treat.
- Emergency departments: for emergencies only. Call 911 for anything life-threatening.
What Ontario Pharmacists Can Treat
Ontario pharmacists can assess and prescribe for 19 common minor ailments at no extra cost with your health card, according to Ontario. Prescribing is optional for each pharmacy, so call ahead. The Ontario College of Pharmacists lists the conditions, which include:
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections
- Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
- Seasonal allergies, hives and insect bites
- Cold sores, canker sores and impetigo
- Eczema and other dermatitis, including diaper rash
- Acid reflux, hemorrhoids and menstrual cramps
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Tick bites, to help prevent Lyme disease
Urgent Care and After-Hours Options
Many family health teams run evening or weekend clinics for their own registered patients. The Ottawa Hospital’s family health team clinics, for example, see their own patients only and don’t take walk-ins, according to The Ottawa Hospital. When you join a new practice, ask what after-hours care it offers. For anything serious, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.
Sell Your Ottawa Home for Just 1% Listing Commission
Why pay 2.5% listing commission to sell your home when you don't have to? Jason Polonski lists Ottawa homes for a simple 1% listing commission. Full MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure, professional photography, powerful online marketing, expert pricing, and a skilled negotiator fighting for every dollar of your sale price. Top-tier service — you just keep thousands more when your home sells. Smart sellers are already making the switch. Your home deserves the best, and your wallet deserves a break.
Ottawa’s Hospitals
Ottawa’s major hospitals, with addresses from Wikipedia’s list of hospitals in Ottawa:
| Hospital | Address | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Ottawa Hospital, General campus | 501 Smyth Road | Alongside CHEO in the Alta Vista area |
| The Ottawa Hospital, Civic campus | 1053 Carling Avenue | Being replaced by a new campus nearby (below) |
| The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside campus | 1967 Riverside Drive | |
| University of Ottawa Heart Institute | 40 Ruskin Street | Specialized cardiac care |
| CHEO | 401 Smyth Road | Eastern Ontario’s children’s hospital |
| Queensway Carleton Hospital | 3045 Baseline Road | Serves the west end, including Nepean, Kanata and Stittsville |
| Montfort Hospital | 713 Montreal Road | Ottawa’s French-language hospital, serving patients in French and English, in the east end |
| Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre | 1145 Carling Avenue | Specialized mental health care |
| Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital | 43 Bruyère Street | Part of Bruyère Health. Rehabilitation, palliative and transitional care |
Get Cash Back When You Buy a Home in Ottawa
Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
The New Civic Campus
The Ottawa Hospital is building a new campus on a 50-acre site bordered by Carling Avenue, Preston Street and Prince of Wales Drive, near Dow’s Lake, according to the hospital’s project updates. The new campus will replace the Civic, and CTV News reported that it’s on track to open in 2029, with a trauma centre and a rooftop helipad. As of spring 2026, crews were preparing to excavate the hospital’s foundation, with the parking garage due to open first.
The project will change the area around Dow’s Lake, the Glebe and Civic Hospital. Our guide to neighbourhoods near the new Civic hospital covers what it could mean for nearby homes.
Healthcare and Where You Live
For most buyers, healthcare isn’t the deciding factor, but it matters for some:
- Retirees and downsizers often want a short drive to a hospital and specialists. See Retiring in Ottawa.
- Families with young children may value being close to CHEO.
- Healthcare workers often choose homes with an easy commute to their campus. Smyth Road, Carling Avenue and Baseline Road are the main hospital corridors.
- Rural buyers should check the drive time to the nearest emergency department.
Nearest Major Hospital by Area
| Where you live | Major hospitals nearby |
|---|---|
| Kanata, Stittsville, Bells Corners, Nepean | Queensway Carleton Hospital, Baseline Road |
| Westboro, Hintonburg, the Glebe, Civic Hospital area | The Ottawa Hospital Civic campus, Carling Avenue (new campus near Dow’s Lake from 2029) |
| Alta Vista, Riverview Park, Elmvale | The Ottawa Hospital General campus and CHEO, Smyth Road |
| Riverside Park, Hunt Club, South Keys | The Ottawa Hospital Riverside campus, Riverside Drive |
| Orléans, Vanier, Beacon Hill | Montfort Hospital, Montreal Road |
| Barrhaven, Riverside South, Manotick | No hospital in the community; Queensway Carleton or the General campus, depending on your route |
Drive times vary a lot with traffic and weather. If quick hospital access matters to you, time the trip from the address before you buy.
Notes for Specific Movers
- From another province: contact your current province’s health plan before you move to confirm how long your coverage continues, and apply for OHIP as soon as you arrive.
- From Quebec or Gatineau: if you move across the river, you’ll switch from RAMQ to OHIP. See Ottawa vs Gatineau.
- From outside Canada: eligibility depends on your immigration status. Check Ontario’s OHIP page, and arrange private insurance for any gap. Our guide to moving from the U.S. to Ottawa covers other first steps.
Our first 30 days in Ottawa checklist puts OHIP and Health Care Connect alongside your other first steps.
Moving to Ottawa?
Jason can help you find a home that fits your work, family and healthcare needs, and share local knowledge on each area. Call or text (613) 601-9333.
Related Living in Ottawa Guides
Working With Jason Polonski
Jason Polonski is a Kanata-based REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty and more than 15 years of experience helping buyers and sellers across Ottawa, including many families relocating from other provinces and countries. He helps newcomers understand the practical side of settling in, from health cards to commutes.
His background in construction and the electrical trades helps him assess a home’s condition, and his Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University, with a double major in Marketing and Finance, helps relocating buyers plan their budget and timing. Read his Google reviews or learn more about Jason.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare in Ottawa
Register with Health Care Connect online or by calling 811. A Care Connector will look for a family doctor or nurse practitioner accepting new patients near you.
No. Ontario says there’s no longer a waiting period, and eligible residents have immediate coverage.
In person at a ServiceOntario centre, with three original documents proving status, residency and identity.
The Ottawa Hospital’s General, Civic and Riverside campuses, the Heart Institute, CHEO, Queensway Carleton, Montfort, the Royal Ottawa and Bruyère.
It’s on track to open in 2029, according to CTV News, on the site near Dow’s Lake.
Call Health811 for nurse advice, visit a walk-in clinic, ask a pharmacist about minor ailments or use virtual care through your benefits.
A City of Ottawa staff report found more than 165,000 residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner in 2022, and staff believe the number has grown since. Ontario aims to connect everyone who wants one to primary care by 2029.
Register with Health Care Connect, sign up for free alerts through DocAlerts, check community lists published by MPP offices and call clinics directly. Clinics often fill new spots within days, so act quickly when one opens.
Not for insured services. Doctors may charge for uninsured services or offer an optional block fee, but the CPSO says they must not refuse to take you on, or stop treating you, because you decline a block fee.
Pharmacists can assess and prescribe for 19 minor ailments, including uncomplicated UTIs, pink eye, cold sores and allergies, at no extra cost with your health card. Call ahead, because prescribing is optional for each pharmacy.
