Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 17/02) - A public review of an amendment to the NWT's nursing profession and pharmacy acts has become a contentious issue.

The GNWT, nurses, and doctors all have concerns with Bill 8, which is expected to be passed into law this week.

The interim legislation is crafted to cover the pilot practitioner project taking place at the Yellowknife Women's Centre, where practitioners are working collaboratively with doctors.

Currently, these NPs, who are also instructors at Aurora College's primary health care nurse practitioner program, cannot prescribe medication without consultation of a doctor.

When Bill 8 is passed, practitioners will be able to function to the full scope of their training and education.

Staff shortages

The absence of legislation in the North has contributed to health-care worker shortages in the North, said Barb Round, executive director of the NWT Registered Nurses Association.

"I have heard from nurse practitioners in Ontario who are scared that if they work in the North their hours will not count to keep their designation current," said Round.

Practitioners, like regular RN's, must have their working hours recorded in a specific registry and until Bill 8 passes, the NWTRNA cannot legally recognize NPs.

By the end of December, Round said, the new Nursing Profession Act should pass in the legislature, covering the three graduates from the Aurora College's 16-month program and all future NPs.

Dr. Ken Seethram, president of the NWT Medical Association, said that doctors support the nursing practitioner legislation on the whole.

But Seethram would like to see a clear balance between control exerted by the minister of health and professional independence of doctors.

Potential for conflict

"Our concern is the minister's ability to override existing legislation," said medical association member Dr. David Butcher. "There is a potential of great conflict."

In many communities across the NWT, many nurses are performing NP roles without legislative backing.

Minister of Health Michael Miltenberger said that this interim legislation speaks to enhancement of services.

"This is not intended as cost savings or a way to limit access to doctors," said Miltenberger.

Sandy Lee, MLA for Range Lake, supports the bill, but questions why this is the first undertaking Miltenberger has addressed since the legislature began sitting Tuesday.

"This legislation does not speak to the shortage of nurses in the territory," said Lee.

"You can't lose sight of the whole picture. The health care professionals are overworked and the system is ripping at the seams."

Necessary step

While this is a necessary step to bring the NWT on par with the rest of the country, said Lee, too much reliance may be placed on this to solve all the health care woes.

"Nurse practitioners are not meant to replace physicians," said Barb Round of the nurses association.

"Their role will increase efficiency, decrease wait times and provide various entry points into the system."

All recommendations rais-ed at the public review will be discussed by the standing committee on social programs. The final draft of the bill will receive third reading in the legislature this week, after which it will become law.