Debates of October 23, 2006 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask some questions today to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it gets back again to my Member's statement where I mentioned a constituent of mine who has gone without a diagnoses for three years, is living in chronic pain, unable to work, unable to support his family and unable to sleep for any more than 15 minutes at a time, Mr. Speaker. It's unthinkable that a government can allow a resident to suffer this long with this type of situation. I'd like to ask the Minister responsible whether or not the Government of the Northwest Territories has a policy to deal with a resident who feels there's no alternative but to seek medical attention outside of this country? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe there would be a policy in place that's in effect that would deal with how patients access services, whether it's in our territory then to the next jurisdiction where we have a contract for services and if there are no facilities within Canada, then further to pre-approve programs. But that would follow a timeline and process. In the particular Member's spoke about here in the Assembly, although I'm not going to get into the level of detail, I'm aware that he hasn't been left out there on his own. There have been many doctors' visits to try and deal with the situation. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to deal with the specific issue that the Member feels needs to be done, and that's travelling outside the jurisdiction. At this point, I'd have to get more detail as to what the specifics would be in this particular case. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent has seen a number of doctors, had a number of meetings, referrals to specialists of various nature, and is, in fact, on a waiting list in Calgary to be seen down there, as well. But I want to ask the Minister and the government, how long does somebody have to wait and what do we deem in terms of what is an acceptable level of a wait time to at least get a diagnosis to get somebody the help that they need? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout Canada, the issue of wait times has been important; in fact, to the level where it's being addressed nationally through the federal government and provinces and territories to deal with that issue of wait times within the field of health and social services. In this particular case, we have worked with other jurisdictions, other doctors, and many referrals to try and come up with a solution here. Unfortunately, we haven't been able and we're waiting for the next opportunity. Again, if the services are available within our jurisdiction, that's the first place we would go. If not available, then we would go to the next jurisdiction. In this case it would be Alberta, and that is in the process right now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the instant of a constituent feeling that the health care system here in the Northwest Territories and Canada has failed them and they seek alternative medical care outside of this country, or overseas for that matter, in what way do they get some kind of compensation for the money that they've spent to get the help that they need themselves? I'm wondering what the process is for that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again going from own knowledge of previous experience in this department, is that our process is established for services available within the Northwest Territories. Those that need those services would be directed to the location closest to them. If they don't like that level of service and choose upon their own wisdom to travel beyond that, that would be at their own cost. The same would fall into levels of services that are available within Canada. Again, because we've been dealing with this file with other jurisdictions and trying to come up with an appropriate level of care, if the individual decides to go beyond that of their own decision, then they would be on the hook on their own. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that three years is long enough for somebody to be allowed to suffer under the conditions that this individual has been allowed to suffer under, and the inability of our health care system to get him the diagnosis that he needs. He's in the process of travelling overseas to get some help, and I want to ask the Minister if he'll commit today to at least have a thorough examination of this individual's file. I'd be more than happy to sit down with the Minister and sort this out, because I think it's completely unacceptable that one of our residents has to seek medical care overseas because our doctors and our health care system are failing him. I'd like to ask the Minister to make that commitment to me today, that he will do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 164-15(5): Health Care Difficulties Experienced By Constituent

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not a trained doctor and I don't understand that profession well enough, and I'm sure the Member across will be in the same category. I'm willing to sit down, work with the Member on this and go and do some historical data, go through the process that we've used to date. At this point that's what I will commit to, is to sit down with the Member, review this file. But beyond that, again, we're relying on the professional expertise of the caretakers out there. Thank you.