Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I want to express my sympathy to the Jumbo family of Trout Lake who lost a much-loved elder in a recent boating accident. The tragedy has been a very difficult one for everyone in the community. After the accident, CPR was done at the scene and the victim revived. She was transported to the health centre, but in the end her injuries were too severe.
I really want to thank everyone who made such a great effort to save her. You’re an example to us all.
While many people are now grieving, this accident could have been much worse. Three other people survived the crash. One had to be medevaced to Yellowknife for treatment at the Stanton Hospital.
I wish I could also offer praise and thanks to our Health department and medical travel system, but the reality is it was not responsive at all, especially considering the circumstances. People in Trout Lake were shocked by how long it took for help to arrive. No one at the Fort Simpson Health Centre picked up the emergency phone; four times they were called. Finally family called the RCMP to advise the health centre of the emergency in Trout Lake; and after this delay it took five hours for the medevac plane to get to the community. I don’t know how much more time passed before the patient arrived at the hospital, but it is safe to say it took far too long.
This kind of response time is unacceptable. It undermines our residents’ faith in the medevac system and our health system. Everyone should have the comfort of a medevac system that is reliable and responsive not only for Trout Lake but for all communities in the NWT.
I think the Minister should find out what went wrong. I will be asking those questions in the House later today. There have to be changes made to ensure that this never happens again.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
