Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has just been over a year now since we’ve had commitment to get a licenced practical nurse in Tsiigehtchic. Yet, to this day, we don’t have a licenced practical nurse in Tsiigehtchic.
I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, has there been any progress in getting an LPN in Tsiigehtchic on a full-time basis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I’ve said previously in the House, I have directed the department to do a review of the ISDM to see what make-up of professionals would be appropriate in the smaller communities. I have committed to doing that. I note the department has had some discussions with the Beaufort-Delta, specifically around Tsiigehtchic and the options that have been presented by the Member, but we have not hired an LPN for Tsiigehtchic. We need to finish the other work before we figure out what would be the appropriate course of action. I’d be happy to work with the Member, happy to work with committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I’d also like to ask the Minister if the department is making any policies to make it possible to have a full-time licenced practical nurse in Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.
I think it’s important to finish the analysis first so we can figure out what the appropriate make-up would be. It may not be an LPN, it may not be an RN. It may be, it may not be. We need to do that work and we have committed and I have committed to do that work and sharing the results with the Member, so we can have an informed discussion on how we can provide quality care for the residents of Tsiigehtchic and the other small communities in the Northwest Territories.
I’d like to ask the Minister, when is the analysis going to be complete and when will the community have a licenced practical nurse, or a nurse, for that matter, in the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I don’t have a timeline, but we do plan on doing this review in the 2014-15 fiscal year. We will get to the Member before the end of that fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not want this to be a drawn out process. Will this be complete within the 17th Legislative Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The review, analysis and direction will be completed within the 17th Assembly. It might take a bit of time, but I will continue to work with the Member and committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
