Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)
Member’s Statement On Surgical And Specialist Services At Inuvik Regional Hospital
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is in regard to a petition introduced by my colleague the honourable Robert McLeod, MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes, regarding a Beaufort-Delta Regional Council petition signed by 794 Beaufort-Delta residents for emergency and surgical services at Inuvik Regional Hospital.
Mr. Speaker, the honourable Premier Joe Handley; the Honourable Floyd Roland, Minister of Finance; Robert McLeod, MLA Inuvik Twin Lakes; and I were in attendance at the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council meeting from March 20th to 23rd, 2006, in Inuvik. In attendance also was medical staff from Inuvik Regional Hospital, as well as government staff from Yellowknife, to listen and answer questions from the Beaufort-Delta delegates. Mr. Speaker, the concerns raised by medical staff at Inuvik Regional Hospital and the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council involves the need for a ministerial director to allow the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Authority to staff specialists necessary for surgical and pay salary and benefits for specialists, including general practitioners with special training, surgeons, obstetricians, anaesthesiologists, nurse practitioners and registered nurses.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier and the Minister of Finance heard firsthand the concerns raised by the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council. I support the petition submitted by my colleague from the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council to have the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to hire these medical professionals. I encourage the Minister of Health and Social Services to immediately provide a policy directorate to allow the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to hire professional medical staff for the benefit of the Beaufort-Delta residents.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will continue to lobby and raise this important issue on behalf of the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council and the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services in their endeavours to address the medical services requirements for the Beaufort-Delta residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause