SA国际影视传媒

Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler couldn't guarantee that an emergency physician will be in-person at Stanton Territorial Hospital's emergency department 24/7 this summer.

Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart asked Semmler for some kind of guarantee on Monday during question period at the legislative assembly.

"We have been scheduling physicians, emergency room physicians," she said in response to Testart's request. "Beyond what the development of the schedule is, I would have to get back to the member as the schedule is developed."

Without a guarantee, Testart asked Semmler what her answer would be to a patient who arrives at Stanton's emergency room for treatment but there's no emergency physician available.

Semmler did not give a direct answer to that question, explaining that patients are triaged. 

Semmler added she hears what her peers' concerns are.

"What I would like to say is that staff that are working in [the emergency department] - and I hear what the members are saying and I'm not trying to sugar coat it - they're working hard. And, yes, there's a lot of things going on," said Semmler.

Testart followed up again asking for another commitment from her, asking if she could guarantee that labour and delivery services at the Inuvik hospital will remain open over the summer.

Semmler also could not guarantee that.

"We will work by using any means to be able to keep that service open; however, we need to ensure that we have the staff there to do it safely," she said in response. "What I'm committing to is making sure that we are providing safe obstetric services and if it becomes where we do not have a service, then we will have to transition to Yellowknife. Right now, I haven't had that so hopefully that doesn't change over the summer."

Dr. Courtney Howard, president of the NWT Medical Association, previously told SA国际影视传媒 her concerns about keeping the emergency department open.