Chris Puglia
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 06/02) - "It's serious, serious, serious. I am just frustrated," says Sandy Lee, Range Lake MLA.

Lee is referring to Health Minister Michael Miltenberger's announcement this week of an upcoming independent review of Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Yellowknife MLA Sandy Lee says she has little confidence that an independent review will yield any significant results.

"We need some action. The minister should be paying attention to how the hospital is run. I have to question why we need an independent person coming in to do that. I think it's a wasteful process," Lee says.

Lack of confidence

Lee adds she has little confidence that an independent review will yield any significant results. She said what the GNWT and hospital needs is a comprehensive recruitment and retention package.

"I have no confidence there will be one (a recruitment and retention strategy) after this review...it (the review) is not an answer to anything," she said.

Lee blames poor foresight for the crisis now plaguing the hospital that has subsequently resulted in a reduction of services.

"This has been building and building and now here we are where everyone has been warning us we'd be," Lee says.

According to Lee the only way to repair the damage that has been done is to begin focusing on staffing.

"Everyone seems to have a priority on deficit cutting without a focus on how are we going to fill this hospital with people who can run it," she said.

Larry Elkin, Stanton Territorial Health Authority board chair, defended the review and says the authority is working closely with the ministry on the issue.

"We are all working together with the minister co-operatively."

"We all share the common goal of addressing the recruitment and retention issue," says Elkin.

"It's very important we take action on all front. The situation we have here is unacceptable. We're quite prepared to take whatever action."

It is Elkin's belief that the review will address the issues that are causing barriers in staff recruitment and retention at the hospital.

"The results will be constructive. The intent is to work closely and effectively with our staff."

Immediate action wanted

Suzette Montreuil, president of UNW Local 11, which represents Stanton employees, says she wants a plan immediately.

"I don't want to wait three months," she said responding to Lee's belief that the review won't yield any action until December as reported in Wednesday's Yellowknifer.

Montreuil says she has no objections to the review providing it will lead to viable solutions.

"The minister needs to address all barriers to recruitment and retention and if this report can do that effectively and efficiently the local will back it."

"We will be watching the minister act upon the recommendations."

Public meeting in works

City resident and owner of Keywest Travel, Kerry Yamkowy will also be monitoring the situation.

This week Yamkowy announced she will be organizing a public meeting to discuss health care issues in the region.

Yamkowy says she is being motivated by a complete lack of faith in the system she believes has let health care in the region deteriorate over the last five years.

Yamkowy says she has already met with a group of people interested in a public meeting and an announcement of when the forum will be held will be made soon.

Recruitment needed

Currently there are 20 vacant positions for health care workers throughout the hospital, including 18 for registered nurses, one manager position and one audiologist. So far recruitment efforts have not been successful.

The problem is the GNWT is finding it hard to compete with other jurisdictions where the cost of living is lower and nurses are already in high demand.

The problem was compounded when retention and recruitment bonuses were eliminated in March 2002.

"The main issues here still pertains to recruitment benefits and wages," says Craig Lee, a nurse at the hospital.

The staff shortage is also resulting in nurses working more hours.

"There is overtime in just about every ward," he said.