Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The first question is, does the Minister acknowledge that the way the primary care reform has been carried out has led to negative impacts, both on continuity of care for patients and negative impacts on practitioners' efficiency, morale, and ability to see patients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with no added resources in primary care, the delivery model has been reorganized with the intent to deliver a more equitable access to service aligning the restructuring with the transition to Liwego'ati proved to be relatively a seamless process. The ten teams involved in the relocation would primarily be absorbed to fulfill the additional staffing requirements resulting in the potential dissolution of several teams. Blaming the way the reform and operation changes that are happening for all the negativity and reduced efficiency overlooks the historical context and the challenges of moving services into the new building while staffing the downtown clinic without adding any new services. Throughout this process, all team members were kept informed, engaged, throughout numerous meetings, discussions, as much as leadership could manage that. And so therefore, you know, I understand with any change, comes -- you know, there might be -- there may be questions and there may be things that people don't agree with and don't like, but this is a new change. They only moved into the -- just recently moved into the Liwego'ati and they are just recently starting the four teams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister monitoring the rate of physicians, nurses, MPs, LPNs who have been terminating their contracts with the health authority over the past year, and is she taking steps to find out why they are leaving? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Hay River Health and Social Services, the NTHSSA, and the TCSA, all complete quarterly vacancy reviews to identify current and future active vacancy needs in the budgeted positions.
Mr. Speaker, along with the vacancy review, exit interviews continue to be conducted with staff across the health and social services system. Data metrics and trends based on their feedback have been used to synthesize into six overarching themes and drivers. The results have been used to inform the creation of the employee engagement strategy and development of the employee retention programs and initiatives. And as of June 30th, 2024, the vacancy rate for physicians within the NTHSSA was 48.6 compared to March 31st which was 48.7. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is just can the Minister commit to providing data to this House on the rate of health care practitioners, so that's physicians, nurses, NPs, and LPNs, and other staff, who have been terminating their contracts with the NTHSSA over the past year? And I would emphasize that I'd like to see the stats for primary care in particular but then extending to other units. Can the Minister commit to providing this data in written form? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure of how detailed, like, the vacancy -- the vacancy information that we have, but I can commit to providing the most recent vacancy information that we have. But I'd like to say, however, Mr. Speaker, that in doing exit interviews, you know, staff are choosing to leave due to many different issues in primary care. Many are departing for sick family members that live outside the NWT that they've disclosed or reasons related to family and child care. Mr. Speaker, there have been two NPs that have left primary care since the move -- or there have been no NPs that have left. We actually hired two NPs in the prime care since the move. But the largest group that we're seeing that move around in the health care are the program assistants, and they are entry level positions in that team, and they have more options to move around in the system and take different roles as they see they arise. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The final question is are steps being taken to reduce the administrative burden on practitioners, such as physicians, which the burden has unfortunately increased due to the primary care reforms, so that they can work to their full scope and do what they do best which is caring for patients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a lot of effort has been put into improving efficiency, and everyone is part of this work. Physicians are on the new YK primary care reform regional committee which is guiding the reform efforts. This committee has created two working groups, both including physicians. One group is focused on clinical information management, and this -- and is working to reduce administrative burdens and streamlining process allowing practitioners and nurses to spend more time with patients. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
