Fort Simpson (Mar 25/05) - Several councillors criticized the health department Monday for scaling back services at the Fort Simpson Health Centre, with one member calling the decision "bloody bad management."

Notices taped to the door of the community recreation centre and post office Monday announced the centre would be closed - with the exception of emergencies and pre-arranged appointments - from March 21 to 30. The notices said the partial closure was due to a "nursing shortage" in the Deh Cho village of 1,200.

"This is not a Chinese restaurant or a laundromat," said councillor Norm Prevost during a council meeting Monday night. "It's a frigging hospital. It should be open."

Several councillors were upset the Department of Health and Social Services did not give advance notice of the scaled back services.

"We need to send a letter to (Health Minister Michael) Miltenberger to find out what the hell is going on," said councillor Bob Hanna. "This is bloody bad management."

Emergency services

The health centre will still dispense medicine to elders, monitor pregnant women and provide emergency services, said the notices posted around the village.

Department spokesperson Damien Healy said the staff shortage would only be temporary. One nurse is on vacation while a manager was transferred to Yellowknife for the week.

Mayor Ray Michaud worried patients with seemingly minor medical problems would stay away from the health centre only "to wake up dead."

"The department seems to be saying: 'Just don't get sick,'" Michaud said.

The department has scaled back medical services in Fort Simpson before, said several councillors. "It's an essential service," said Owen Rowe. "We need to make sure this never happens again."

Council agreed to send a letter to Miltenberger asking for explanations and assurances the same thing would not happen every holiday.

Healy said the restricted hours would not be a regular occurrence during peak vacation times. He conceded the department could have done a better job passing the information on to the community.

"Posting notices is the not the best method, but it does get the information out there," he said. In the future, the department would try to notify town officials, Healy said.

He suggested anyone with non-emergency medical problems call the government's Telehealth line. The service provides medical advice over the phone.