Debates of August 23, 2011 (day 16)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my questions with regard to my Member’s statement on the delivery of health services in Nahendeh to the Minister of Health and Social Services.

For the last eight years I’ve been continuing to raise about the ability of having translators, about having cultural training workshops for staff. It appears that it has taken a relapse again, so to speak. I know it comes in waves, cross-cultural training. I’d like to ask the Minister if there is consistent cross-cultural training that happens with the front-line health staff in our communities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the intent, recognizing, of course, as the Member pointed out along with other MLAs, that one of the challenges is the rapid turnover in staff and often the use of locums or casual nurses. It is a challenge.

I appreciate the Member’s comments and feedback. I intend to follow up with the board chair and the deputy minister. Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister’s answers. I think just one of the solutions that must be done is we have to have consistent cultural training and awareness training programs for our front-line staff.

I spoke in my Member’s statement about our elders being turned away not once or twice but three times as you go to the health centres. They are being given Tylenol, like Mr. Yakeleya says. It is the same in my riding. They are going there and being given Tylenol. They are not being diagnosed or even examined properly. They are just saying they are sick, so here’s some Tylenol. I’d like to ask the Minister if he’s aware of this and what can be done to stop this type of practice and do proper medical examinations on our constituents. Thank you.

Once again, this is an important issue. The Member has written to me on some specific cases. I would point out that there are thousands of patients seen successfully every day across the Northwest Territories. We do have the occasions where things don’t quite work as planned. The issue of being more responsive and sensitive to the needs of seniors are cautions that are worthy of note. Once again, as I follow up on some of the concerns the Member is raising, that would be on the list. Thank you.

I would think that doing a proper medical examination would be the first thing you do, because people are saying they are going there and getting cursory examinations and given Tylenol. I’d like the Minister’s commitment that the front-line staff must do this to our residents and constituents.

The other issue is about having proper translators and training for the front-line translators that are there. What type of training program is available to the front-line workers that deal with people on a daily basis? Thank you.

Once again, some of those services are available usually at the larger centres, the health centres, the larger facilities, the long-term care facilities. The issue of translators in the small communities is more problematic. Once again, if the front-line staff is experienced and from the region, it’s a different issue than if they are just in town for a few weeks. The Member, once again, raises an issue where we don’t have the complete solution. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much. I know we are beefing up our Aboriginal Languages Training Program, working with the Minister of Education. That is a commitment of this government. I think it’s time we start doing a coordinated approach. Perhaps the Minister of Heath could work with the Department of Education. Let’s get these terminology courses happening in all our Aboriginal languages provided to our front-line workers, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to do that? Thank you.

Yes, I will discuss with our deputy and the Minister of Education to make sure we are coordinated and connected on that important initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.