Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my time as the Minister so far within this year, you know, we have excellent staff, you know, and, yes, they are -- they are tired and, yes, there are, you know, very -- not just at Stanton. In the regions, you know, you most recently hear about in the regions we have, you know, obstetrics closures, we have nursing stations that are on emergency services. And so what we're -- you know, like, what we're trying to do is we're looking at it as a whole of territory because as I said in the very beginning, this is a whole of territory issue, and Stanton...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, that level of information on record moving is very operational. And right now what we do know, and I have mentioned it in this house before, that our systems do not communicate with Alberta where a lot of our referrals go. So there is, you know, work going on right now to -- and I mentioned it in previous sessions that we are looking to upgrade the EMR, electronic medical records system, within the Northwest Territories. And with all of those options that have been raised by Members have been highlighted as things that we need to ensure that when...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, you know, I can commit to having that conversation again with the NTHSSA of what their practice is. I am not familiar of how long contracts are, if they're -- you know, I mean, in the past, you know, the only time I've ever seen a short enough contract in my time working in the health authority was within, you know, maybe over Christmas so that we didn't have to shut down services so maybe a two or three-week contract. But, you know, as the -- as it is now, we are struggling with staffing. And whether Members in this House or anywhere, you know, we don...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been on the books now and on the radar since -- you know, it's more -- it more happened more so when the lab changes happened that we do not have the technology within the hospital that allows for calls to be in queue and all that. And so there is work going on between -- NTHSSA is working with -- I think it's Infrastructure or TSC -- to ensure that this issue is being rectified. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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...

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, as I mentioned before that, you know, we are -- as this whole year I've been working with the governing council and working with the Members, hearing from the Members, hearing from the public. It's not that I -- you know, it's -- I don't sit here on having deaf ears. I know that there are real issues within our health care system. You know, there are real issues that people are sicker and that we need serious -- and so I hear the Members. And, yes, there are things that we are looking into. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. As Stanton is a territorial hospital, it doesn't fall within one of the regional wellness. So each of the regional wellness, so each of the regions have a COO, and then they have a council -- a regional wellness council that has a chair. And so what I have -- within Stanton, we did not have the chair of the governing council at this meeting. But we do plan to have the chairs of the regional wellness as long as -- as well as the COOs and the CEO and the deputy minister moving forward with all of the other regions because they do have chairs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do and I will and I have had communicated this to NTHSSA and to the other health authorities, you know, and so that way that we do have a plan in place and that, you know, when people can't get their leave, as many members said, that it does impact them. So thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can commit and say that what has been committed to by the Stanton is that the policy that is within Stanton for leave is going to -- or is being reviewed currently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.