Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 03/05) - With the Kivalliq Health Centre successfully handling emergency medical procedures as of last week, the facility is expected to be taking sick patients sometime this week.

The community has been reduced to emergency service-only since a July 13 fire at old the health centre.

The new centre was expected to open in mid-September, but with an investigation determining it would take about four months to repair the old building, a decision was made to open the new building early.

"We've finally got all of our stuff out of the old health centre," said Tish Wilson, a director with Kivalliq Health and Social Services.

Patient files have been transferred, and new equipment moved in, Wilson said, but the building does not have any computers and still needs to be trained on how to use the phone system. The X-ray machines are functioning well, Wilson said, but the clinic rooms are still being stocked with the proper equipment.

Wilson expects full programming to begin sometime before Aug. 12.

Pharmaceuticals that were damaged by smoke in the old health centre fire are being replaced, Wilson said.

"The community has been absolutely fantastic. They've been very patient and understanding," she said.

"If they can just hang tough a little bit longer."

Few emergencies

Wilson said the new facility has been able to handle the few emergencies which have come through the doors over the past weeks, and anticipates anyone with a non-emergency illness should be able to be treated sometime this week.

An investigation by the fire marshall's office has determined the cause of the fire to have been a failed heat trace.