Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Sep 14/01) - New nursing positions have been created in Fort Providence and Fort Liard. Liard will soon have a second social services worker on staff as well.

Kathy Tsetso, chief executive officer for Deh Cho Health and Social Services, is pleased to have strengthened nursing staff in two communities. The remaining challenge is to hire a few more nurses for Fort Liard. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Kathy Tsetso, chief executive officer for Deh Cho Health and Social Services, said the Health Department provided funding for the position in Fort Liard following a forced growth report in spring. Forced growth accounts for increased costs realized by the board, such as higher fuel and utilities costs, as well as other program related costs.

The post in Fort Providence, which has 750 residents, has been funded internally by the Deh Cho health board.

"We really didn't have to beg, borrow or steal," Tsetso said, adding that costs for overtime and temporary nurses had practically equated to another full-time nursing position anyway. "In fact, we didn't see any depletion in any of our budget areas."

Both communities now have a complement of three nurses.

"We're doing pretty good," Tsetso said. "I'm just excited that we're not going backwards here. In fact, we're seeing increases in most of our communities."

The new nurse in Fort Providence began work on Monday. Recruitment hasn't been as successful for Fort Liard, where two positions are now open due to a recent resignation. A temporary nurse has been brought in to pick up the slack.

Joanne Deneron, mayor of Fort Liard, said she is delighted that her community is getting an additional nurse, but will be more relieved when the positions are occupied.

The second social services worker in Fort Liard, who starts at the end of the month, is being funded as a result of the Child and Family Services review on child protection, Tsetso said. The community of 600 people has had only one social worker since the late 1980s. Prior to that social workers based in Fort Simpson were flown to Fort Liard on an as needed basis.

Additional social service workers will likely be added within the region over the next few years, Tsetso said.