Debates of February 25, 2020 (day 8)

Date
February
25
2020
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
8
Members Present
Hon. Frederick Blake Jr, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lafferty, Hon. Katrina Nokleby, Mr. Norn, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Diane Thom, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek
Topics
Statements

Question 81-19(2): Hay River Dialysis Unit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for health a couple of questions. I am going to go to something that was brought up in the last Assembly, and it was to do with dialysis. In the North, it's an issue getting that service, and in Hay River, we have a dialysis unit, and it's kind of running at half throttle. We're looking after eight people when we can be looking after 16, and it's partly due to funding.

What I'm hoping the Minister of health -- I've got three questions for her. I'm hoping that the answers will just be one word, "yes," "yes," and "yes." We need something positive. We have to roll something out to the communities. I would ask the Minister of health if she is willing to have her department, commit her department, to work with the Hay River health authority to look at expansion of the dialysis? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes. Our department is committed to working with the Hay River Health and Social Services authority, and actually, I was in Hay River last week, and I was able to go and have a look at the dialysis unit. The Member is right. It is under-utilized, so thank you.

That's one yes. For the second yes, is she willing to direct her department to immediately start building a business case to make that happen?

Second yes. We will commit to doing the necessary work.

That wasn't too bad. The final one, so hopefully it will be a yes here. It is an easy question. Will the Minister of Health ensure that her department keeps me in the loop as well, and updated on what's happening?

The third yes, and the Member gets what he wants.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

This is easy, Member for Hay River South. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiiledeh.