Authority CEO says alternate sites being sought in Trout Lake

Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, January 22, 2015

LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A cabin used to provide healthcare services in Trout Lake is no longer suitable for use according to the CEO of Dehcho Health and Social Services.

"We've determined it's past its usable life and we have to find an alternate location from which to deliver services," said Donna Allen during a recent meeting with Jim Antoine, the public administrator in Fort Simpson.

Antoine was appointed about a year ago. He acts as a liaison between the public and authority by passing along concerns from the public and getting updates on various health authority programs and activities.

The cabin is used by a community health worker and other medical staff who fly in on a monthly basis.

Allen said staff members from the authority were expected to travel to the community of 100 this month to look for other sites and to continue providing the services until the health cabin can be replaced.

Allen did not get into details about why the cabin is no longer suitable for use and Dennis Stavrou, who was acting as CEO this week, had little more information to offer on the subject.

"There's a number of factors we look at when we evaluate buildings," he said.

Stavrou couldn't speak to the exact factors because it is not his area of expertise, but said buildings must be replaced at the end of their expected lifespans.

The cabin is still in use - staff sometimes uses it to over-night - and services are still being provided to the community, he added.

It's not the only cabin in the Deh Cho region in need of replacement, Allen said while giving her report.

The health cabin in Jean Marie River also needs to be replaced, but that project is already on the capital budget spending schedule.

"We'll propose that both be planned and constructed at the same time," she said, adding that doing so would likely save money.

Allen added that this measure would have to be approved by the GNWT cabinet.

Both said staff from the infrastructure division of the GNWT Department of Health and Social Services are looking to find other places for the Trout Creek services.

Sambaa K'e Dene Band Chief Dolphus Jumbo wasn't available to comment for this story.