Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier today in my Member’s statement, the community of Tsiigehtchic has been without a nurse for the last 15 years. We did have a nurse in Tsiigehtchic for many years before this position was removed. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what is the department’s plan for a nurse for the community of Tsiigehtchic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department plans to continue to work with community leaders and the health authority out of Inuvik, the Beaufort-Delta Health Authority, to try to provide nursing services, physician services into Tsiigehtchic. Ultimately, we would like to somehow place a nurse or two in Tsiigehtchic, but because of the Integrated Service Delivery Model there is not enough work for two full-time nurses. So we’re going to try to work something with the authority and Fort McPherson to try to do something where they can have emergency coverage, which is really, I think, the main issue, that even though the nurses go there during the day, there’s never coverage in the evening. If something happens in the evening, we have to find a way to try to provide that coverage. So we’re having those discussions now. Thank you.
Thank you. The Minister said they were in discussions with the department. So at what stage are the discussions that he’s having with the department with regard to a nurse in Tsiigehtchic?
Thank you. We are at the very initial stages of this new idea of trying to somehow have a situation where the nurses can actually live in Tsiigehtchic. There are a few things that must fall into place. One is security when the nurses are called out. Right now, because there are no RCMP officers located in Tsiigehtchic, we’re going to try to find a way that the local community can provide security. Number two is housing. We have to find some housing where we’re going to place two there. There may be room for one nurse now, or there may be room for both nurses, but somehow we’ve got to find suitable housing, and then the most difficult task of actually putting the job out and attracting someone that would be prepared to work that type of schedule, which may mean working in Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic both. Thank you.
Just for the Minister’s information, the community does have one unit designated for a nurse in Tsiigehtchic. I’m sure they’d free up another unit if that was made available.
I’d also like to ask the Minister, will he enter into an agreement with the community of Tsiigehtchic for a pilot project for a licenced practical nurse as an interim measure. Thank you.
It sounds like it would be a good idea, a good way to pilot something. I know that a type of restriction sometimes that governs registered nurses on whether or not one registered nurse can remain in a small community by themselves doesn’t restrict the licenced practical nurse in the same way.
We think that the majority of the work within the Integrated Service Delivery Model can be done by an LPN. So I would be prepared to look at that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So is that a yes? Thank you.
Thank you. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
