Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for the -- is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Doctors are complaining about not being able to provide timely and effective feedback with respect to the structure of the system and the problems they see. Primary care doctors more specifically have proposed initiatives. I'm asking what forum does the Minister allow good conversations and discussions about proposals that doctors are providing that can help save the health care system? Thank you.
Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the NTHSSA, the primary care sits within NTHSSA and the doctors work within the NTHSSA. And so the doctors have -- you know, they have the medical director. They have the territorial medical director, they have the COO, they have the CEO, and they have the governing council. So they have very many levels that if they're not being heard, you know, they have very many levels. And if the -- you know, and if they're still not being heard after they've gone all the way up to the governing council, then that's when -- then, you know, the discussions between myself and the governing council can happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that answer from the Minister, but when the doctors are suggesting to open up the CT scan that -- system and creating avenues to help patient care and expedite it in the sense of service and save money, it's going on deaf ears. So what next if no one seems to care about the advice and direction offered by doctors, especially our primary care doctors? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as that is very operational questions, I -- you know, that is the first time I've heard that issue so that would be something that they -- I would recommend them to be raising with the COO and the CEO. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are more concerns and, apparently, that's been highlighted many times, and I think even another MLA pointed out scheduling. These doctors are saying they could provide suggestions through efficiency and management of time by doing their own scheduling and they're reaching the point that they're considering leaving, if not some have already left. Maybe we could start with the first clarity on this particular issue is how many primary care doctors do we have in Yellowknife and working in the Stanton hospital? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to get back to the Member on that. Thank you.
Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been made aware that it's close to five or six doctors have either left or just recently have given their notice of leaving. I'd like that to be confirmed with respect to the numbers I've asked a few moments ago. Is the Minister aware of this, and what is she doing about it? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, this conversation that has come up in the House, it came up yesterday and, you know, and it has -- many people come within our system and, you know, we are doing exit interviews to find out why and we are using the data to change the way that, you know, we're engaging with staff or retention. So what I can say is that I don't get notified whenever there's a health care person or a doctor within the whole Northwest Territories that is hired or has left, you know, and so therefore if the Member wants to know, I -- like, I was willing to share with the Member yesterday, the variance, like, when staff are -- you know, and any -- and positions, I can provide that to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
