Debates of May 27, 2005 (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Earlier in my Member’s statement, I spoke about the need for a dialysis machine in the Nahendeh riding, particularly in Fort Simpson to take care of our elders over there. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services how can we begin the process of bringing a dialysis machine to the Fort Simpson hospital. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche, for that concise question. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a saying that even a broken watch is right twice a day. Having said that…

---Laughter

…I would like to acknowledge that the Member has a very legitimate concern in terms of dialysis in his region and that I want to publicly state that the Health and Social Services department is going to be working with the authority to make sure we establish those services. We are looking at two communities outside of Yellowknife in addition to Fort Smith; Fort Simpson is one and Hay River is another because there is a need there. There are residents who currently require the service who cannot get it in their home community. The fundamental rationale is we are paying for the service somewhere, either in Yellowknife or Edmonton, and it makes far more sense to have the services as close to the people it serves as possible. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hear the Minister and I am sure glad that the clock is ticking on this important subject for my constituents. Speaking about clocks, what is the timing like in moving a machine over to Fort Simpson? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we are working on this as we now talked in this House. We have had meetings with authorities. We have talked to the department about it. The rationalization to do this is very clear; the rationale is there, the justification. We are working on the planning. We are in the business planning process and we are looking at putting some of our federal funds to use as well when those are finally flowing to us, so we can deal with this issue as quickly as we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That’s exactly the kind of answer I was looking for, because I do have to see an elder this weekend. He is one of those captive by this disease in the Yellowknife hospital. Virtually, he’s in his room. So, once again, they will be looking at this. Is there an active team that has been set up in the region to look at the transition of such a machine? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have spent an extensive amount of time doing this for the first time getting the services outside of Yellowknife into Fort Smith. We have worked out an arrangement with Stanton, with the Capital Health Authority. We have worked on the protocol and procedures. So it should be much more timely. We are working with the CEO and staff in the Deh Cho region, as well as with Stanton and the department and Hay River. We have people who have worked through this process once. So to set it up in Fort Simpson we anticipate will be considerably less onerous than it was the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just with respect to the implementation stage, it’s my understanding that the training might be quite detailed for people who handle the machine. Maybe the Minister can elaborate on how much training is involved, because there is some confusion back home that it’s really quite extensive and some people have to take a lot of time out of their busy schedules to do this training. Perhaps the Minister can elaborate for me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 36-15(4): Dialysis Services Needed In Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There is about a six-week training component to get nurses and LPNs qualified and ready to provide this service. That service has been delivered out of Stanton for those individuals involved. Of course, we recognize this as a program expansion in the communities where the service is being delivered and recognize that it’s impossible to expect them to do it with existing resources, so we are moving to make sure that the appropriate resources are there, both in terms of human resources and fiscal resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for question period has expired. Mr. Krutko.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.