Dr. Sean Wachtel, Nunavut’s chief public health officer, is still on leave. (File photo)
Nunavut’s top doctor still on leave
GN cites privacy as Dr. Michael Patterson continues to act in Dr. Sean Wachtel’s place
Dr. Sean Wachtel, Nunavut’s chief public health officer, is still on leave nearly a month after the Department of Health announced he would be absent for two weeks.
Dr. Michael Patterson, who served as Nunavut’s top doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided regular health updates to the territory, continues to fill in during Wachtel’s absence.
“Dr. Wachtel is taking leave and we are respecting his privacy,” said Nadine Purdy, a spokesperson for the department, in an email.
“Dr. Patterson continues to act at this time, and the CPHO office is business as usual.”
Wachtel’s absence was announced in a May 24 news release, which stated Patterson would be acting for two weeks.
At the time, Health Minister John Main declined to elaborate on the absence, saying it would be a “temporary” arrangement.
Dr. Andre Corriveau was appointed to a one-year term as Nunavut’s deputy chief public health officer on Sept. 8, 2022. Nunatsiaq News has asked the Department of Health where Corriveau is and why he isn’t filling in for Wachtel, and hasn’t yet received a response.
Wachtel has served as chief public health officer since December 2022.
He replaced Patterson, who stepped aside from the role after four years.
I was involved with the covid pandemic. Front lines employed. Dr Patterson was the greatest.most rational thinking person we could have ever hoped for to guide us thru one of our country’s worse traumas.
Dr Patterson kept us safe for that every single person on Baffin Island,importantly the residents of Iqaluit in my opinion give great thanks for having such a capable confident and wonderful man,Doctor, for the wisdom and fortitude he displayed for the peoples under his care.
So with that being said Dr Patterson thank you from a previous employee who did work shifts with you during the pandemic and her family for bringing their Mom and Grandmother back home safely.
May angels rest upon your shoulders may you have kindness and love sooth your heart and soul during times of strife.
Fern
I highly respect Dr. Patterson. I’ve worked with him for a couple of weeks during a community screening and I have to admit I have never met a doctor in Nunavut that has high respect for the people of Nunavut he provides service for, he knows his job very!! Ayungi!!
Yes, a lot of people weren’t happy with him during locked but please know that a lot of politicians were in control of what was decided for Nunavut.
VOTE DR PATTERSON FOR MLA
No
Bring him back as CMO
No, Dr. Patterson is not nearly as competent and exceptional as the Department of Health would suggest. While he handled COVID well, he neglected the simmering TB situation in Pangnirtung and not listening to us front line staff who raised early alarm bells. Now, we have a Territory wide outbreak, and over the long term, this will be very bad. TB may be a “slow” illness, but Nunavut’s rates of same are embarrassing for Canada. He also is (in my opinion) very arrogant to work with, doesn’t listen or support nurses/ support staff, is self serving.
Tens of millions of dollars on covid hotels that did not save anyone or change anything. Months to adapt practices to avoid this even after vaccination. If handling covid well meant copying another jurisdiction two months after then a monkey could have done it. I still remember patterson approving all kinds of exemptions for health staff to take vacations and premiers to fly float planes for fun but not for frontline health staff.