MLA decries safety issues at medical boarding homes
Mary Killiktee says travellers are sometimes sharing quarters with strangers of opposite sex
Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee says medical travellers are sometimes placed in “dangerous” accommodations at boarding homes. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Uqqummiut MLA Mary Killiktee decried Thursday what she calls “dangerous” rooming situations for medical travellers staying at boarding homes, such as the Tammaativvik board home in Iqaluit.
Killiktee, whose electoral district includes Clyde River and Qikiqtarjuaq, gave anecdotal examples of her constituents being booked to stay in rooms with people they don’t know, during her member’s statement in the legislative assembly.
In one case, she said a female traveller spent the night in the hallway because she was uncomfortable with the behaviour of two men in her room.
In another, she said a traveller entered the room where they were booked to stay and was yelled at by the other person who was supposed to stay there.
“Patients and escorts are often required to share rooms with complete strangers,” Killiktee said.
“People are worried, in particular the women, about sexual harassment when they end up boarding in the same room as males.”
Killiktee asked Health Minister John Main to address these issues in question period.
Main responded, saying the medical boarding homes the Government of Nunavut works with — located in Iqaluit, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Yellowknife and Edmonton — are run by private contractors; however, his department meets with the operators regularly to discuss issues.
“If it’s a safety issue, particularly for women or elders who are feeling unsafe.… That’s something that the Department of Health takes very seriously,” Main said.
“We have been making changes, where required, on our part to strengthen safety issues.”
That includes providing escorts to inexperienced travellers and designating elder-specific rooms.
“I’m not saying everything is perfect, but it’s a continual process of quality control and troubleshooting when specific issues do arrive with the contractor,” Main said.
Killiktee asked what changes will be made in response to her constituents’ concerns.
“They’re very worried about their accommodations when they have to go to the hospital,” she said.
“There has to be some very specific safety measures taken.”
Main said the private operators have their own accommodation policies, but he encouraged travellers to voice their complaints to his department.
“I can’t commit to specific policy changes, but I can share that there is a process where complaints can be submitted to the office of patient relations,” he said.
Main said that based on the complaints his department has received, many appear to be alcohol-related and not just in Iqaluit but at all boarding homes.
“That’s a continual area of concern for us,” he said.
“We have been working with all of our contractors in terms of how do we ensure safety, but as well, how do we ensure that we’re accommodating different needs at the boarding homes.”
These photo opp ministers have not answered any questions. How many questions has been taken as notice by these clowns.
“Main said that based on the complaints his department has received, many appear to be alcohol-related”
Why there’s no way that’s possible!? We sign a piece of paper saying we won’t drink or do drugs while on medical travel.
Eshoomaqautiga/ Tahkunnaqautingalu nanmagitook/ Qanooq/ Please do not put my name. Aoulutsigiakarhiaksok. Nalujuqai awlutsiigiaqsuk Naluuvaluktook. Pijutsangit amiisoluagatovalaimata pijutsangit. ouimaqatakqat ajaie. Nalinamariituk atsoorookattaqat. Qanuqlie tamana aulatsiviganta aqigiarroonatqa. eenaqai kiikaqainalawloni oeematsimaluiraniraluktook taimykinaqrajuktook. Qujanameek Main peenasuaqataraveet atsuurotuutit. Utluqatsiariitsee ekajukpatuut.
I really think this is bull because from what I have seen it is the clients that do the damage and make living conditions dangerous.
100%. I recently stayed at the Iqaluit boarding home and the only issue I had was other medical travellers drinking and causing a disturbance. Yelling and screaming ag 2 and 3 in the morning and then the poor boarding home staff having to deal with all that. So many complainers when the real issue isn’t about the boarding home staff at all. I’ve experienced the same thing at the boarding home in Ottawa… so many people who can’t handle responsible drinking.
They were grown or smart enough to refrain from doing this…
In typical form with a strong show of leadership and vision John Main suggests using the processes in place.
Way to go, John… Undoubtedly, all will self correct from this point forward.
How do you tell an entire ethnicity to smarten and grow up?
First off, you don’t label a whole doggone population under one judgmental, put-down label (not smart enough and not grown up enough).
Learn to walk the fine line between direct and truthful, and callous and ignorant. You’re likely an adult – you can.
The only ones who have achieved this are grandparents – who then need to support their grown children and the children that these grown children have produced. Care for them, feed them, and keep them somewhat secure while the grown children are living in hopeless cycles of searching for drugs, alcohol, inappropriate relations, and PubG. So, these grown children surely will not disrespect this situation with elder abuse, right?
So look for work and show up consistently, even if you are tired. Learn how to prioritize and budget money, curb your desires and addictions, and ultimately take control of your lives. Don’t be posting on FB asking for leftovers because you havent eaten yet today, and then borrow $40 (with the promise of paying back $60 on Friday) to get a pack of smokes or play bingo. These points all point to growing and smartening up.
“How to tell an entire ethnicity to grow up” that’s what we have been trying with ppl coming up here to work for many and I mean many years. Its not working.
IKR?
Years later “None of it” is just a money pit day care center and…”Oh! Woe is me. It’s their fault…”
Ask A.H., you’re probably related
The biggest offenders are the “escorts”.
Get rid of them and you get rid of the biggest component of the problem.
Escorts aren’t needed anyways. There are helpers and interpreters available at the boarding homes and hospitals.
Let’s stop funding free trips south for overgrown selfish children who don’t care about their impact on others.
I know of , a person that used to escort people , so that they could bring back drugs and booze to sell . person finally got busted after , a few years in business.
Good! Serves them right! Some people travelling as escorts who only want a free trip and hate having to help the patient in any way. So sad!
Exactly, discontinue escorts now. With Hire Inuit staff who can be nurse aids to assist those who need assistance in the boarding homes. Hire Inuit aids, interpreters and social service aids to assist and provide emotional support to those in hospitals who need assistance. Please.
When they see the amount of abuse suffered by children and are regularly accosted while trying to go to the Northern Store. Then, they have to try to do their own job on top of the person whose cubicle next to them has been vacant all week, as well as the job of their “superior” who disappeared on a wicked bender. By this time, they are exhausted and confounded by the lack of accountability that exists, and they decide to move on (back East). Notice that those from Ontario and the Prairies will not even venture north – they got the memo. And by superior I mean position that is held by a “token”.
The people
They have to be in cahoots. Escorts and patients go out to appts/doctors in the cities and party. Then bring back as much booze as possible… sell this to whomever has money. These people get injured or injure others resulting in more medivacs. The GN is happy with the money they spend (to themselves) with medical travel. Round and round she goes…
I wonder if the boarding homes report back to medical travel (or the department, the names of patients and/or escorts who have been drinking while there?
They should as they have broken their agreement not to.
If nothing else, the escort could be barred from being an escort in the future.
Trust me, the Boarding homes tells the head nurse in each community who broke the rules on medical trips. They’ll be booted out of the larga for one or two years.
Stand-up comedy show
I come here to read comments…..so many great ones that make me laugh.
Thanks Nunatsiaq News for allowing someone these comments to make it though….al;ways makes my day