Nursing shortage 'serious'
Groenewegen urges co-operation on problem

Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 04/00) - As of this weekend Aklavik residents are without nursing services.

They join those in Tsiigehtchic, who are without a nurse until Sept. 1, and Paulatuk, where nursing services won't be restored until Aug. 29. Aklavik nursing services will be restored Aug. 17.

Meanwhile, Health and Social Services Minister Jane Groenewegen says her department will continue to work with the Inuvik Health and Social Services Board (and other boards across the NWT) on dealing with the territorial impact of what has become a national problem.

"This is a joint issue that must be addressed in partnership," Groenewegen said in a statement.

"Improved planning by the boards and the development of a comprehensive human resource plan by the department will both help ensure coverage is available more consistently," the minister said.

"While we are facing serious shortages in some regions, this is something that we do face periodically. Seasonal fluctuations in staffing levels are not new in the North. Nevertheless, when they occur they do present serious problems for the affected communities."

Groenewegen pointed out it is more difficult recruiting nurses to remote areas. She said she is still examining a recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, which stated that between 1994 to 1999 the number of registered nurses for every 10,000 NWT residents dropped from 84.1 to 70.6.

"Decreases in a per capita ratio are not always due to nurses leaving the North, since as the population rises or falls, the per capita number of nurses changes," Groenewegen said.

"The report doesn't take into account the number of NWT patients treated at southern facilities. While essentially in our employ, and caring for our patients, nurses at these southern facilities are not accounted for in our profile."