CALL
I tried calling, but I’m not sure what to say or who will answer.
What to do
- Call or walk in to midwifery clinics or community health centres
- Say: “I think I’m pregnant and need care.”
- If no one answers or you are turned away, try another place
You know the number. You know where to go. But it still feels hard to call or walk in. You might worry they will say no, or that there is no help for you.
But you still need to try.
The questions below can help you call or visit, but they don’t guarantee you’ll get what you need right away. It can take a few tries to reach the right place or person.
Questions people ask
Where should I call first?
Start with clinics close to where you live.
Use the map to find your nearest subway stop, then look at the midwifery clinics and community health centres around that area. These clinics often take patients based on where you live.
Pick 2 to 3 places and contact them.
NOTE: Some places accept patients based on community instead of their address. For example, BREATHE Midwives and TAIBU CHC support African, Caribbean, and Black communities across the GTA, and Black Creek CHC offers unique support for Francophone newcomers. Others, like Access Alliance, The Canadian Centre for Refugees and Immigrant Health Care, and Parkdale Queen West CHC, have specialized lower-barrier care for migrants and refugees.
What if I don’t speak English?
Many community health centres have interpreter services or staff who speak different languages.
“Do you have an interpreter?”
You can also repeat your language until they understand and connect you to one.
You may not get an interpreter right away. The first person you speak to may ask you to continue in English or say no one is available at that moment.
If that happens, try again. Call back, ask again, or go in person and use a translator app. You can also request the clinic’s email or bring someone you trust to help translate. These services are supposed to be available, but sometimes you need to insist or try more than once to get them.
What should I say when I call?
Do your best to keep your request simple.
“Hi, I think I’m pregnant and I’m looking for health care. Do you accept patients without OHIP?”
- If the person you are speaking to says yes, ask for the next step to register.
- If they are unsure, ask if there is someone else you can speak to or another time you can visit or call to speak with someone who knows.
What if I don’t hear back or they say no?
Try another clinic. It is normal to contact more than one place at the same time.
“Do you know another clinic or midwife who might accept someone without OHIP?”
Do I need to say anything about my situation?
No. You only need to share what feels okay to you.
It does help to say you don’t have OHIP. Some clinics offer support to people living here without immigration status, which is different from being on a valid visa, so how you describe your situation can matter.
Clinics may also give priority to people who have fewer options or who are in a difficult situation, such as living in a shelter, facing violence at home, or working in unsafe conditions.
But you don’t need to explain your whole story over the phone or on the first call. Just share enough to find out if they can see you.
Where this leads
Once you’re accepted by a midwife or given an appointment at a community health centre, the next step is your first visit.
TALK has more on finding people you can trust to help you check information and make decisions.
You can also skip ahead to ASK or DECIDE if that fits your situation better.
If you or your baby are in danger right now
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Hospitals must treat emergencies, with or without OHIP.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24/7). Indigenous women: Talk4Healing, 1-855-554-4325 (24/7, 14 languages). If a partner is hurting you: Assaulted Women's Helpline, 1-866-863-0511 (24/7, multilingual).
For health questions that are not an emergency but cannot wait, call 811. It is Ontario's free health line, 24/7, with interpretation.