Health minister explains how Nunavut avoided health centre closures across territory
John Main predicted in June that 11 health centres would close; only 2 did
Only two health centres have temporarily closed in Nunavut this summer, in Kinngait and Pangnirtung. (Photo by Mélanie Ritchot)
Despite a dire prediction that 11 of Nunavut’s 25 health centres would have to close temporarily over the summer, only two ended up having to shut their doors.
Health centres in Kinngait and Pangnirtung closed in August, with Pangnirtung’s closure lasting for one week and Kinngait’s lasting about a month. Kinngait’s health centre is set to reopen Sept. 7, about three weeks earlier than expected.
Health Minister John Main credits the work of his Health Department staff in keeping most health services available to people across Nunavut.
He says some health workers rescheduled time off work and agreed to work in more challenging leadership positions at their health centres.
“The effort that the staff have put into trying to avert these closures has really been remarkable,” Main said.
“Full credit goes to them.”
Another incentive to keep health staff in Nunavut is a program introduced last year to allow nurses to bring a family member or friend with them to a community, with the GN covering the flight. That program is happening again this year.
“It’s important that [nurses] enjoy their time in the community they are working in,” Main said.
The Health Department received plenty of support from out of territory, too.
The Canadian Red Cross supplied eight nurses to fill in at Nunavut health centres, and paramedics travelled up to help out as well. While paramedics do not fill the same role as nurses, they help ease the workload of nurses in communities, Main said.
Health centres across the territory avoided full closures by moving to reduced services, as well. Under reduced services, a nurse remains on site, but the centre only provides emergency care.
Last year, eight health centres either closed or offered reduced services for parts of summer.
Health Department spokesperson Chris Puglia said reducing services at health centres from time to time is a normal part of operations, and that all of Nunavut’s health centres have operated at some level of reduced operations this summer. The reasons for this were not exclusively from staff shortages, he said.
Main said virtual health services were available for communities experiencing closures and reduced services.
The GN is not projecting any more closures for the summer.
In other words all annual leave requests for indeterminate employees were denied for operational reasons, aka management’s poor planning, poor recruitment and poor retention philosophy. I guess not enough people were ready to quit this summer waiting for their NEU agreement cash. Goodluck over the winter. So glad I moved to casual.
I heard most ADMs make close to, if not 187,000. that is not including Northern allowance, can you imagine the DMs? Plus alot of them reside in subsidize GN staff housing!!
You think these position would actually receive a cut in pay and be allocated towards increasing nurses pay?
Than you have the Director of health programs who supervised these Nurse in charge in the communities, who has absolutely no supervisory skills, who overstep the NIC boundaries when they get involved in supervising the local staff.
Often times the clerk interpreters, janitors, travel clerks are all calling the DIrector of Health Programs when they don’t get their way or when they do not get along each other ? It’s very visible why a nurse would become overwhelmed due to absolutely no support from Managment…
Management, which includes DMs, most often get an annual bonus. This is up to 8% of their salary. They also get at least one additional week of vacation. Factor that all in and the DM is well over $200k, especially after a few years of inflation adjustments. Also the GN gives it as a matter of course, rarely on actual merit and accomplishments: “Thank you for keeping is barely afloat, here is $20,000”
It’s clear that the regional level is where there’s a breakdown, particularly in Baffin. DMs, regional managers, et al. are killing Nunavut’s healthcare. Whether it’s turning Akaussasarvik on its head for…how many years now, in a row? Or the nightmare that is the absolute state of SHPs bullying subordinates, it’s beyond brutal out there for a nurse.
So, the usual mix of skeleton staffing and threats from the GN. I’m curious, how many nurses will ‘not be invited back’ for turning down an extension that basically was conscription? Essentially, the GN bullied its employees, played the ‘oh poor me’ card with the Red Cross, and business continues as normal. More burnout, more new nurses, more money in regional managers’ pockets.
My favorite line in the article is ‘The GN isn’t predicting any more closures for the rest of the summer’…on September the first.
Come on, Nunavumiut — get trained as health professionals (nurses, etc.)! Work here and help us — Nunavut needs you.