Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement, I spoke about our Health department working with the BC Health ministry and their northern health authority about having Fort Liard residents utilize their services.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, do we have a current arrangement with BC Health or any of its authorities currently? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do not have arrangements currently with BC Health.
As I indicated in my Member’s statement, I think by having an agreement with the BC Health ministry will certainly impact and even lower our health costs in terms of medical travel as well.
Can the Minister investigate what process will it take to having a working agreement with the BC Health ministry as we did in the old Capital Health System with Alberta? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I am prepared to have the Department of Health and Social Services have discussions between the leadership in Fort Liard, Deh Cho Health and Social Services, to discuss the feasibility of using the health system out of Fort Nelson, British Columbia. We will use our agreements with Alberta as a guide to hold those discussions. Thank you.
Already our Fort Liard residents are utilizing the Fort Nelson health system on their own costs. Will the Minister also investigate the possibility of reimbursing patients in Fort Liard going to Fort Nelson, at least for routine care? They’re using the dentist, they’re getting health check-ups. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, normally we don’t have a system where we pay retroactively on medical travel and so on within our own system. Right within our system we don’t have that possibility. But I will look at having a system where if it’s medical travel, just like we do medical travel into Alberta, there would be medical travel from Fort Liard. As opposed to going to Simpson, they’re going down to Fort Nelson and it would be just like the regular medical travel system. I will look at that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister is on the right track. Once we get an agreement, I think the travel between Fort Liard and Fort Nelson will certainly take care of itself.
Just once more, will the Minister contact the BC Health ministry and begin these discussions, as well as involve the community of Fort Liard and its residents? Thank you.
I will commit to having our department, Health and Social Services, the executive office, start those discussions and we will make contact with BC Health in Nelson and also discuss that with the leadership in Fort Liard. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
