In an effort to alleviate the mounting shortages of health personnel and the constant pressure on the ERs of the North Shore hospitals, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) des Laurentides announced the full opening of the first-line access window (Guichet d’accès à la première ligne/GAP), which offers people without a family doctor access to the region’s various services in the event of a one-time health problem.
People on the waiting list for a family doctor can now reach this specialized service by dialing 811, option 3.
In conjunction with several partners in the health and social services network, the GAP offers consultations by appointment, but also references to several services available in the region. By contacting the GAP by telephone, the person will be directed to the first-line service best suited to their needs, whether it is an infection, the renewal of a prescription that cannot be done by the pharmacist as well as dealing with pain or any other non-emergency health problem.
Ms. Rosemonde Landry, President and CEO of the CISSS des Laurentides, said that she is proud that the service is now available to all people without a family doctor. “The GAP meets an important need for people who are waiting for a family doctor and who have a health problem. With more than 700 calls per day, we can already see how much this service will be appreciated by the population of the Laurentians,” she said. The first line access counter is open every day. The opening hours and services offered are available in the Front-line access counter section. The wait time may vary depending on the day and time of the call.