Yellowknife (Feb 26/03) - Stanton Territorial Hospital has lost no time in looking for new staff.

In December, Health Minister Michael Miltenberger announced an interim strategy for $8.2 million to hire 42 new doctors and nurses for Stanton and the NWT.

Al Woods, Stanton Territorial Hospital interim CEO, said although the funding doesn't become effective until April 1 the hospital has been actively recruiting.

"We've got some pretty promising leads," Woods said about hiring three specialists.

Stanton is set to hire four physicians in April, three specialists in obstetrics, psychiatry and surgery, 10 nurses and 10 additional nurses once they get more funding.

Six nurses have already been hired and will be starting as soon as possible.

But recruitment is a tough job. The hospital advertises all over Canada and the U.S., and a recruiter travels around Canada at post-secondary job fairs.

Woods said the people who come to Yellowknife are often looking for a lifestyle change and a Northern adventure.

"If they're here for a year or two a lot will stay forever," said Woods.

He said housing is the biggest challenge.

"We've had some come and not find suitable housing," he said, adding the recruits left because of that.

"We can have as many funded positions as we want but it doesn't mean we'll fill them."