N.W.T. health minister apologizes to families impacted by suspension of birth services at Stanton Hospital
CBC
N.W.T. Health Minister Julie Green offered an apology Wednesday to families affected by the temporary closure of birthing services at the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife.
Green, along with Kim Riles, the chief executive officer of the Health and Social Services Authority, and Jim Antoine of the Health and Social Services Leadership Council, spoke publicly at noon to give an update on the staffing shortages at Stanton and the service reduction at the obstetrics unit.
On Wednesday, Green said the staffing situation at Stanton has exposed the harsh reality in the North that many families have to leave their home communities to give birth in an unfamiliar environment.
Green said health officials are building a team to look at the current operational issues, including staffing levels.
She said just seven nurses have applied for positions in the Northwest Territories since June, and only one has been hired.
On Nov. 22, the government announced almost everyone planning to give birth at the hospital between Dec. 10 and Feb. 21 would instead be transferred to Edmonton, because there weren't enough nurses to staff the obstetrics unit.
The closure is expected to cost the N.W.T. government $1,125,000 in transportation and accommodations alone.
You can watch the news conference here or on our CBC NWT Facebook page.
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