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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Patients are fuming after fasting for blood work only to find out Yellowknife's laboratories were closed for non-emergency services starting Monday.

Glennis Poitras went to Stanton Territorial Hospital on Monday morning shortly after 8 a.m. to have blood work done but found the lab empty. She never heard about any closure, she said.

The Stanton laboratory is closed Dec. 5-12 and the Yellowknife Primary Care Centre lab was closed Dec. 5-6, so information systems could be updated, according to representatives with the Department of Health and Social Services. Neither lab books appointments for blood work in advance - only walk-in appointments are taken.

"There wasn't even a sign on the door at the hospital, and nobody who works there - nurses, or doctors or orderlies - they didn't know the blood clinics were closed down either," said Poitras.

When she went to the downtown Yellowknife Primary Care Clinic, she said she was told it was closed, and to instead go to the hospital. She said a clinic employee placed a call to confirm that the hospital was closed as well. She said she was surprised no employees knew of the closure.

"So I'm there with my own self and four other people that came into the clinic downtown, where there's nobody there to educate you and no signs there to educate you that they are closed, and on top of that, one gentleman who was probably between 60 and 65 had fasted for 24 hours and drove in from Prelude Lake East."

She said she feels the public is owed an apology and the health department should do more to ensure the public is aware of such closures.

"My concern is why we were not educated as the general public. Why weren't we told they were closing this down, and what are they doing in case of emergency?"

Damien Healy, manager of communications for the health department, said if an emergency situation were to arise the department would provide all the necessary blood work services, despite the labs being closed. He also said a media advisory was circulated last week, and posters were put up at affected health centres throughout the NWT. The English version of the poster was circulated beginning Nov. 21, and the French version was circulated a week later.

"We notified the public via posters in all the health authorities, so there was advanced notices provided. There was a media advisory last week. Subsequent media picked up the stories last week," said Healy.

"The small delay will allow for greater efficiency in the future with our laboratory computer system replacement project, which is not just a simple computer 2.0 upgrade; it's a little more technical," said Healy.

He said the department apologizes for the inconvenience, but the upgrades are necessary.

"It's unfortunate if somebody was directed to the hospital and it was closed as well, but like I say, it was only a two-day delay."

The changes couldn't be made on the weekend because the hospital's systems had to be live in order to ensure the information systems are working correctly, according to the department's associate deputy minister, Dana Heide.

"So I want to be very clear that it's not just a computer upgrade," said Heide.

One Yellowknife resident who asked not to be named said his concern was with what the delay could mean for people who need blood tests in order to receive medications.

"A lot of people rely on test results to get medication in order to alleviate pain. So that just means everybody's stuck for a week," he said.

He too said staff at the hospital didn't seem to be aware of the details of the closures when he arrived.

Poitras said she will probably have her blood work done early next week.

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