Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services
Monday, February 26, 2007

CAMBRIDGE BAY - Kitikmeot health centre officials have until Halloween to figure out how they will transport patients from the airport to their door.

The Cambridge Bay Fire Department has voted to cancel its transport contract with the health centre, effective midnight, Oct. 31.

"At our last meeting on Feb. 15, we had a long and hard discussion. The fire department passed a motion to cancel the contract on Oct. 31," said Cambridge Bay Fire Chief Derek Elias.

"It is time consuming for our volunteers, we don't want to let the situation get out of control. The biggest thing is the liability," said Elias.

Cambridge Bay has a vehicle that's being used as an ambulance, but it is not a certified ambulance. Before it was reborn as a medical transport, the vehicle was simply used to transport firefighters to fires.

The decision to convert the vehicle to an ambulance was a matter of making do with the materials on hand, according to former Chief Peter Laube.

"The hospital was just using a minivan. We saw it pull up with feet sticking out of the back. I looked at our cube van, and all we were using it for was transport (firefighters) to the scene," said Laube.

"They (the health centre) thought it was a great idea. For emergency calls, we always had a nurse travel with us," said Laube.

News/North contacted the Department of Health and Social Services, to learn their plans for servicing the health centre. Calls were not returned prior to deadline.

"There is more than enough time for them to get their act together," said Elias.

Cambridge Bay hamlet council will discuss the issue of ambulance service at their Feb. 26 council meeting.