LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
High health staff turnover in the Northwest Territories and the factors that contribute to that are causing concern among some community members in Fort Simpson.

During a public meeting to discuss health-related issues on March 27, the need to retain staff came up as one major topic.

"There are no easy solutions," said Dehcho Health and Social Services Authority chief operating officer Georgina Veldhorst.

Although statistics for staff turnover were not available for the region, Veldhorst noted the situation is not specific to the Deh Cho and said the turnover in Fort Simpson is not higher than elsewhere in the territory.

Addressing concerns related to the workload front-end staff take on, Veldhorst said the department is committed to serving the public as well as attending to the needs of staff.

"It's tricky balancing the two," she admitted, adding the department has an "obligation" to do so.

"I welcome concerns and complaints from the public, because that's an opportunity for all of us to learn. If we didn't have that, we would risk making mistakes over and over again."

Fort Simpson Mayor Darlene Sibbeston questioned whether the department could make more of an effort to attract employees.

Quoting businessman Richard Branson, she said, "you take care of your employees and your employees will take care of your clients."

Resident Mike Athey, who works with students at Bompas Elementary School and Thomas Simpson Secondary School, said the fact the department doesn't put its staff first has become a source of frustration for him.

"If (staff) are overworked and doing 12 to 16 hour shifts every day . how do you think patient care is going to be affected?" he said. "You get your staff coming first, your patients will be tended to better. You will be able to retain staff better."

Fort Simpson is no stranger to the issue of staff retention.

In 2015, similar concerns were shared at a public meeting when it was revealed there were at least seven vacant positions across the authority.

Veldhorst said one solution the department wants to pursue to retain staff is encourage local people to apply.

"That's much more sustainable," she said.

Veldhorst said the department has also had some difficulty filling positions that are already open.

During the March 27 meeting, she said the department has been trying unsuccessfully for three years to fill the position of traditional counsellor. Now, the department has decided not to fill that position.

The department currently has two mental health and addictions counsellors in Fort Simpson, two in Fort Liard and two in Fort Providence.

"We're looking at how to serve the population's needs more effectively," Veldhorst said.

Part of that includes continuity of care. Currently a doctor comes in for two months in autumn. Veldhorst said the department is looking at having a doctor available for 10 days each month.

"At least that's providing some continuity . and some consistency to communities," she said.

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