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Legislative Assembly briefs 'Time to get serious' on Stanton retrofit Katherine Hudson Northern News Services Published Friday, March 01, 2013
He said the intensive care unit only has four beds and is crammed as it is, and a lack of operating room time forces long wait lists. "The facility is poorly laid out for modern medicine, causing serious issues of safety, efficiency and privacy. We strive to control travel costs, but then ship patients south for want of facilities here. The cost in employee stress and to patient care can only be imagined," he said. "It's time to get serious." Currently, Stanton Territorial Hospital is gearing up for an estimated $200 million in renovations and possible expansions in 2015. The hospital is about 25 years old, and renovations are expected to keep the facility running until 2045. "We're building new highways on the most costly terrain known, paying off poorly-thought-out bridge infrastructure and pursuing other new and expensive projects," said Bromley. Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger said Stanton is the territory's flagship when it comes to acute care, and that the government is fully committed to the project. He said the renovations will take place concurrently with the functioning operation of the hospital and the continued provision of service. "We've committed the resources. It's in the capital plan. The money has started to flow," said Miltenberger. MLA wants bariatric surgery an insured service Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro said bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass, is the only viable solution for some to control their weight and in turn improve their health and alleviate the drain of chronic diseases such as diabetes on the health-care system, but it is not an insured service in the NWT. She said in the legislative assembly on Tuesday that more than one in four residents in the NWT live with either diabetes or prediabetes and that on the whole, NWT residents are overweight compared to the rest of Canada. While diabetes treatment is fully covered as an insured service, she said, more needs to be offered. "All provinces cover at least lap band surgery," said Bisaro. Health Minister Tom Beaulieu said the department recognizes that obesity is an issue in the NWT, adding that as of May 2012, a committee has been looking into making changes to the list of insured medical services. "We think that is one of the emerging issues in the whole issue of chronic disease management and we recognize that this is an issue," he said. "We're hoping that once the committee is able to discuss this, that changes can be made in the system and it can become part of the insured services." Call for first aid training in schools After the fatal accident on Highway 3 last week involving two transport trucks, emergency services and resources have been hot topics in the legislative assembly. On Tuesday, Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins said the Department of Education Culture and Employment should ensure first aid training is offered in schools to students in grades 9 through 12, stating "first aid has seen results by first responders who have taken even the basics. "The schools would like to do this, but they're unable to do it under the current funding model," said Hawkins. "The question that really arises is, why wouldn't we be teaching them First Aid? It's such a critical skill." Education Minister Jackson Lafferty said first aid isn't built in as part of the territorial curriculum, although some schools do offer first aid and CPR, and courses are often offered at the community level. "If the school boards feel that it's a critical part of the safety program, then they can deliver that in the schools. We provide annual funding to the school boards based on enrolment," he said. "We do encourage those students to take advantage of those safety programs that are happening, whether they be in the schools or in the communities."
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