My real doctor was out of town, so when I needed to discuss the results of an MRI, i had the misfortunate of drawing Houle out of the hat.

Hollyy crap talk about discourteous, rushing, wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise, just told my spinal MRI was "picture perfect"(skeptical considering the x-ray results that lead to this MRI). Hung up on me after about 3 minutes and refused to fill long standing prescriptions of mine(none narcotic) leaving me to trying to rebook an appointment ASAP.

This quack needs to retire before she seriously hurts somebody.

Submitted March 5, 2024

Dr. Bruce-Houle should NOT be able to practice medicine. She is not only uncaring, but downright rude and laughs in your face when you try to discuss real problems. She would not refer me to a specialist and told me to find another doctor if I didn’t like the way she practiced medicine. Thank god I did; I put up with her for far too long, and would advise anyone to go to a walk in clinic before accepting this poor excuse for a human being as your doctor. That’s what I did, and I’m now (finally) receiving the care from a specialist that I needed.
This woman should be reported by everyone who has the displeasure to come across her, and her license should be revoked.

Submitted Oct. 11, 2023

I have NEVER in my life been treated so badly by a doctor. This woman is mean, miserable, hates her job, humiliated me in front of other patients in the office. She accused me of “wasting her time” & was so angry because she said I didn’t call to cancel a phone appointment. I absolutely called 2 days before & relayed to receptionist I had to take my husband to Victoria for oncology appointment & could not make it.
She is just a nasty bitter woman & should never be a doctor. As this province is in such need of doctors this is what we have “to put up with”. Just disgusting behaviour from a doctor to a patient & a total bully.
So upset with BC health care

Submitted Oct. 6, 2023

She gets in the way of the way of patients getting referral to other doctor , like ER doctors who referred you to other doctors.
Where you ask for a referral to a specialist in the field of neuropathy who happens to be a leader in knowledge of his field , she say if you don't like what I'm doing get another doctor. And tell you they won't help you , she treated me for years for trymenal neuralgia , and the drug ate away my guts then tells you and other doctor their is nothing wrong with you. Where Emerg Doctors disagree, A visit with this lady is very disturbing, she belittles you, treats you like your stupid , And shows you the door.
This lady should not be practicing medicine anywhere , she only wants the dollars she gets from the Goverment when you walk through her door, she does not like to answer questions or listen to you at all , You are only a money source for her. Her license needs to be pulled , I can only wonder how many have died at her hands.

Submitted Sept. 25, 2023

If you're desperate for a doctor, I'd still tell you to stay away. No matter what is going on, you're unknowledgeable and have no idea what you're talking about. You're obviously lying or over-exaggerating and should probably just try Epsom salts for your pain, or making lists for your mental health.
While she isn't good about referrals or help for your physical ailments, any positive reviews on here I have to assume are from people who don't have to deal with anything mental health related. The other reviews about her condescending and borderline cruel responses are not exaggerated at all. She has laughed at my concerns, questions about medication, and suggestions from any other professionals I may see. She knows best, and what's best is for you to stop pretending your problems, especially mental health problems, are real.
Run. She isn't worth the mental anguish you're going to be put through.

Submitted July 26, 2023

If I could rate 0 stars I would. This woman shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine. Her bias against mental health is absolutely disgusting as is her complete disregard for her patient's needs. She makes you feel completely invisible and that you're completely full of it when it comes to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. For someone already struggling, she is completely toxic and outright refuses any assistance.
She has also completely ignored medical labs for physical medical problems until you have to go to the hospital and they confirm what she 'already knew!' but couldn't be bothered to communicate with her patient.

Submitted May 12, 2023

Absolutely horrendous doctor, does not care about her patients, only how many she can churn through in a day. If you have mental health issues, good luck, she does not believe in it and refuses to actually help, instead almost mocks and questions you to the point where I don't think she cares or thinks it's real. She didn't diagnose my wife's knee problems for a year and only did because we pushed for it and when she did all she could say was "this x-ray looks the same as last year, you have arthritis, literally delaying care for over a year to a then 23 yo woman who could barely walk

Submitted May 12, 2023

Dr. Bruce-Houle is a nightmare. I literally don't know how she is even able to practice. Her knowledge is outdated, she is lazy, uncaring, and downright cruel. I've never met such a judgmental doctor who has no desire to help anyone, and accuses you of being a liar when you describe real medical problems.
I would recommend going to a walk-in clinic over having this woman as your doctor. The only person I would wish her pathetic attempts at resolving real and painful issues on, is herself. I hope she gets the kind of 'care' she hands out when SHE needs a doctor.

Submitted Sept. 4, 2022

Probably worst and most dangerous GP in Nanaimo. I left her some years ago. She is routinely toxic and abusive toward patients who are often coping with dire life-threatening health situations when visiting her. Her medical knowledge is minimal. She is actually a danger to the patient's physical and mental health. She would routinely berate me, yell at me and swear at me in her office while I was struggling with 2 different cancers and so weak I thought I would fall out of the chair. One cancer she insisted was a hemorrhoid despite me telling her exactly what it was and why I knew that. She refused to refer me to a specialist, and was even more abusive than usual when I insisted she do so. Her incompetence delayed my treatment by at least 4 months. Maybe more. She should definitely NOT be practicing medicine. Cannot believe I stayed with her and endured that abuse for several years. The only reason she is able to get away with this behavior and lack of skill is because of the extreme shortage of GPs in BC. 20,000 patients in Nanaimo catchment without a GP right now. But it is literally a better and safer and healthier choice to have no GP (my current situation) than go to her.

Submitted June 26, 2022

I read the reviews below and just sigh. Both my child and I have been literally dismissed by this doctor, time and time again. Only to be later assisted by other doctors in the same clinic or elsewhere, generally, when she has been away. Rude, dismissive, Shrugs shoulders when being asked questions, does not actually diagnose anything and is extremely reluctant to give referrals - even after years on ongoing symptoms. Other than refill (current) prescriptions and give occasional non-scientific health store type advice, she is, quite honestly, useless. I am sad to say this as I do not believe her to be a bad person overall, just perhaps burned out by her occupation. That's the best excuse I can give her anyway.

Submitted April 18, 2022