Do I Need a Referral to Visit Women's Care Clinic?

Updated

No. Women's Care Clinic does not require a referral, unlike hospitals. You can contact the clinic directly to book an appointment, and same-day appointments are available. The clinic is located at 960 Lawrence Ave West, Toronto, ON, and can be reached by phone at (416)-256-4139 or by email at [email protected].

Why No Referral Is Needed

Women's Care Clinic is a privately owned clinic rather than a hospital-based service. According to the clinic, this is one of the practical differences between the two settings: hospitals require a referral, while the clinic does not. That means you can reach out on your own without first seeing a family doctor or walk-in clinic for a referral note.

How to Book an Appointment

You have two direct contact options:

The clinic notes that same-day appointments are available, so it is worth asking about current availability when you call or write.

What Happens on the Day of Your Appointment

One feature the clinic highlights is that several steps are handled in a single visit. On the day of your appointment, the attending physician performs:

  • All necessary counselling
  • Blood work
  • Ultrasounds
  • Dispensing of medication

This matters if you are comparing the clinic to a hospital, where these steps may be spread across multiple visits or require separate bookings.

Services Offered

Women's Care Clinic specializes in:

  • Surgical and medical abortions
  • IUD insertions
  • STI, PAP, and HPV testing
  • Contraception services

The clinic states that medical abortions are provided for up to 10 weeks gestation with no additional fees, as the service is covered through OHIP. It also states that it abides by OHIP billing standards and is bound to provide medical abortions at no cost to patients.

Other Things to Know Before You Go

  • Age: Parental consent is not required for patients under the age of 18.
  • Staffing: The clinic is served by female doctors, and its nursing staff have an Emergency Department background of 20 years or more. The clinic describes its staff as diverse and multi-lingual.
  • Accreditation: The clinic is accredited by the National Abortion Federation and follows its practices and guidelines.
  • Sedation approach: The clinic provides local anesthesia and IV sedation for IUD insertion, which it notes means shorter appointments compared with hospitals that use general sedation and involve longer recovery time.

If your main question is whether you need a referral, the answer is no — you can contact the clinic directly and ask about same-day availability.