Debates of June 1, 2006 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Honourable Michael Miltenberger. I will keep my questions short and concise, Mr. Speaker, today, with your admonition to do so. Mr. Speaker, I also fly back and forth between Hay River and Yellowknife a lot, and I have a person from Hay River who I see in the airport almost every time I travel. This is a person who has to travel to Yellowknife three times a week for dialysis treatment at Stanton Hospital. I would like to ask the Minister where are dialysis services available in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We currently have dialysis services available in Yellowknife. In Fort Smith we have arrangements as well with the Capital Health Authority in Edmonton. We are in the planning process for having those services available in the community of Hay River, which we anticipate will be up and operational by the end of October or early November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if the Minister knows how many people in Hay River are in need of dialysis services and will those services in Hay River that he speaks of serve Hay River only or the region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Two questions there, you can answer one or both. Mr. Miltenberger

Further Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the catchment area that’s there for Hay River would be the area of service. That includes people from Fort Resolution, Kakisa, Enterprise, possibly Providence, should the need arise. Yes, we have an idea of those individuals currently requiring dialysis, as well as trying to identify those who may become candidates down the road based on indicators we have at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like so many other allied health professionals, I would like to ask the Minister if he anticipates there being a difficult or challenging finding, people who know how to operate this. Is it a challenge in finding people who know how to operate this? Is it something that when training is received, it could be done by an RN, or do you require dedicated staff for dialysis services? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have training arrangements both with the Stanton Hospital, as well as Capital Health and training can be provided to nurses quite readily and on a regular basis. As well, as we look a little ways down the road, we are also moving towards further enhancing the performance service mandate of LPNs, so they can take on those kind of duties as well. In Fort Smith, for example, we’ve trained nurses. They have that duty plus others and if they are fully booked up at the dialysis unit, that’s what they do. If there is other time available, then they perform other functions as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is June 1st, so the constituent from Hay River who requires travel to Yellowknife three times a week for dialysis, it would be fair to tell him that within five months he will no longer have to make that journey, that those services will be up and running and staffed in the Hay River Hospital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 23-15(5): Availability Of Dialysis Services In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, I shared that information with the individual in question since I spend a lot time in the airport, as does he. We had a chance to talk about this, but yes I appreciate the Member’s concern and we are going to be making every effort as well to recognize the efforts of the Speaker on this because it's a very, very important issue for everybody. We are pushing very, very hard with Public Works and with our own training to make sure we are ready to go late October or early November. Thank you.