Cross-border health-care conundrum
Fort Liard wants the GNWT to cover health care in a nearby B.C. hospital, rather than sending them on wearisome journey to Edmonton through Yellowknife
Michele Taylor
Northern News Services
Monday, September 11, 2017
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Residents in the Dehcho region could access health care in B.C, but it won't be until a new reciprocal agreement with Alberta is finalized, News/North has learned.
Residents of Fort Liard want the GNWT to set up a reciprocal health-care agreement with B.C. - image courtesy of Google Maps |
That would save people seeking health care from either paying out-of-pocket for transportation to Fort Nelson, B.C., or making the 286-kilometre drive to Fort Simpson, possibly followed by a flight to Yellowknife or Edmonton, depending on the treatment needed.
"It's a three-hour drive, then another hour drive and another two-hour flight. It's pretty tiresome on people," said Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson, who has been pressing the GNWT to allow residents to use the services offered by Fort Nelson Hospital, a 210-kilometre drive from Fort Liard.
"Unfortunately, (for) our residents from Fort Liard, their referral is always to Yellowknife or Edmonton and it's not to Fort Nelson which doesn't make any sense," he said. "Residents can go to Fort Nelson, but when they do that they have to foot the bill for that.
"There have been clients that have gone to Fort Nelson and end up going to Prince George and hospitals beyond. And then, sometimes they don't have a translator or an escort with them. And that puts them in spots."
In a letter to constituents on Facebook, Thompson included a response from Health Minister Glen Abernethy about a cross-border agreement with B.C. for medical services not available in the home community.
"We are committed to completing a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it would be feasible to establish a specific service agreement for residents of the Dehcho/Nahendeh between the NWT and B.C.," Abernethy is quoted as stating.
The minister is also quoted as stating the cost of medical travel, continuity of clinical care, integration of services and follow-up would all be considerations in the cost-benefit analysis.
Abernethy did not return a request for an interview with News/North for further details as of press time.
Thompson added in his letter to constituents that the minister gave a date for finalizing agreements with Alberta to close early in 2018.
"The Alberta one has changed a bit since the new election from the Progressive Conservative party to the NDP, so they have to finalize the negotiation process and it's taking a little bit longer than they said they were going to do," Thompson said.
"Then they said they would look into doing the same with B.C."
