That was the day the Stanton Territorial Health Authority was dissolved, the CEO fired and new management put into place.

Al Woods: "I think they asked me because I've been here for 10 years."

The events unfolded following an operational review conducted on the hospital.

It was that same day Al Woods, CEO of Yellowknife Health and Social Services, was appointed interim CEO of Stanton by Health Minister Michael Miltenberger.

"I was called to the deputy minister's office. When I arrived the minister was there and he told me what had happened and he asked me if I would go over to Stanton and be the interim CEO. They wanted me to do both (manage YKHSS and Stanton)," Woods said, recalling the evening.

The action was unanticipated.

"I was really surprised and shocked that these events had happened this way," said Woods.

"I thought the Stanton review was pertinent with every board and there were issues they could have found with every board."

But, what is done is done and Woods made the decision to accept the offer.

"I felt very pleased that they asked me," he said. "I think they asked me because I've been here for 10 years."

Woods came to Yellowknife in 1989 as materials manager of the hospital and moved up the ranks to director of regional services, director of operations and acting CEO, until the arrival of former CEO Dennis Cleaver in 1995. At that time he was hired as CEO of the newly formed Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.

That experience, however, did not quell the butterflies in Woods' stomach.

"I was nervous walking into this environment, with everything up in the air, I thought, 'Oh my God,'" said Woods.

But, he added, the staff has been great and he feels right at home.

"I feel like I'm at home here and there are still lots of people here that were here when I left."

Down to business Until the GNWT decides what the new Stanton governance model will look like Woods said he has assumed all the duties formerly held by Cleaver.

"I have all the general responsibilities with a special focus on the review and recruitment and retention, to see what we can do to stabilize the workforce," said Woods.

"That's going to be very difficult because they were doing lots before and that (difficulty) is not going to change beaus I am here."

A number of initiatives are being worked on, thanks, in part, to the recent announcement of a over $8 million increase in government health spending.

The actions include training existing staff in the areas of intensive care, obstetrics and surgery.

The training will happen in consort with the Universities of Alberta and Victoria, and, with the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton.

The training sessions vary in length but, they all will be completed by March. Woods said by April the necessary training will be in place to fill vacancies that have been hindering hospital operations.

Services such as the intensive care unit, which has been closed since June, should be back up and running.

"Some of the training dollars don't flow until April, but we've decided to bite the bullet and go forward," said Woods.

In the meantime solutions are being looked at to fill current gaps where shortages still cause concern.

One concern is the hospital's pharmacy director is leaving in January. Obstetrics is also a concern.

To help combat that situation Woods said a request has been made to the Capital Health Authority in Edmonton to help fill spots.

"The staff are also working overtime and they've agreed to do that. It's not the best situation and we do need to get it fixed," he added.

"This is a great facility with great programs and we have to get them up and running otherwise things disappear and you don't get them back. Once we solidify the staffing that is when good things happen."

Woods is crediting the government infusion of funding and the addition of new staffing positions as a move that will assist the hospital in recruiting staff.

"Things will be better by spring," Woods said.

Amalgamation possible? Having Woods heading both Stanton and YKHSS has allowed for opportunities to improve operating relationships between the two organizations.

"There were some concerns from my own management team (YKHSS), but we've managed to work it out very well," said Woods.

That situation poses the question, will the government consider amalgamating the two organization.

Woods said it is unclear what the government will choose to do, but he didn't rule it out as a possibility.

"They might look at that," he said.

"There are 20,000 people in Yellowknife and only 40,000 people in the whole territory, you have to justify the number of boards you have. There will be a good discussion with MLAs and the minister over what kind of governance to have."

There is a trend in the south to create fewer boards through centralization. However, Woods said this is a slightly different situation.

"The difference here is Yellowknife Health and Social Services is regional and Stanton is more territorial," he said. Woods said that part is out of his hands, he is here to focus on the hospital an YKHSS and he sees good things happening in the new year.

"We see us in the new year being in a much better position to address the Stanton Review, to focus on recruitment and retention and working better as two organizations," he said.