Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. During my visit to communities, I noticed that there seems to be a high rate of cancer in my riding. Can the Minister please tell me how many people from Nahendeh are being sent out for cancer treatment presently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that there are residents of Nahendeh being sent out for cancer treatment. Some of those are in Yellowknife. Some of those are going south for radiology services or chemotherapy but at this point in time, I’m not prepared to actually give the number. The number is low. Given how low it is, I don’t want be in a position where we might be able to identify individuals by articulating the number but I will certainly discuss that with the Member later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for that answer and I look forward to having a conversation with him. Can the Minister please tell us if there are support groups available for patients with cancer and if these patients are told about this type of program?
Yes there are all sorts of different support groups that exist throughout the Northwest Territories. In addition, we have a cancer care coordinator who works out of Stanton Territorial Hospital and does provide outreach to support NWT cancer patients throughout their entire cancer journey. When the cancer coordinator is aware of a cancer patient via healthcare provider or by a self-referral, she does let patients know about the supports that are available to them that are appropriate and does work to connect them with those resources.
Mr. Speaker, the medical travel guide also lists a number of the different organizations and groups out there whether they are community groups, national groups, or groups supported by different societies. That is in the medical travel guide with all the contact information. I can certainly provide a comprehensive list to the Member. I would list them off all here but we would be going for an extended period of time which I know makes the Members unhappy when I talk for long periods of time and don’t tend to, yes.
I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess my concern is when I talk to some of my constituents they’re not away of these support groups out there so I look forward to working with the Minister. My understanding when patients go out for chemo treatment, the immune system is very unstable or is very susceptive to cross-contamination issues. Flus and that can make them sicker. Does the department have a policy in place to deal with patients who are getting treatment for cancer, both staying in the boarding home or in hotels?
I think this also goes to one of the questions the Member asked earlier today about individuals being in their own rooms. Unfortunately, there is no specific policy in place regarding cancer patients and boarding homes. Cancer patients do stay at boarding homes but the accommodations made can be different depending upon patient circumstances. For example, it could be important that other arrangements are made for patients with reduced immune systems as a result of this type of treatment. This is a policy hole in our system right now. This is one of the things that I’ve asked the department to look at, how we can address or work with our clients who have long-term accommodation requirements may have to leave the territories for extended periods of time as a result of treatment or in compromised positions where it may not be safe for them to be sharing rooms with other people who might be coming in with different illnesses. This is a policy gap that exists. This is something that has been identified. This is something that the department is working to address.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for the answer. It kind of leads in to my next question. With people with chemo treatments and that, can the Minister start working with these patients to put them in hotels until a policy is in place so their immune systems don’t allow them to catch other diseases such as colds and stuff like that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, when these individuals do come to our attention, we do work with them on one-off basis to try and address their issues. It does not mean that every cancer patient is in the same situation that we have described, but where there are certainly issues as a result of other conditions or the chemo effect on their immune systems. We are prepared to work with them to find alternative arrangements. It may not be a hotel. It might be other family supports or other private accommodation that might be most appropriate, but we are certainly willing to work with our residents to make sure that they remain healthy as they are going through treatment and are not catching other conditions or sicknesses or illnesses. Thank you.
