This is the first instalment in a two-part series. Some Fort Resolution residents are calling for better first-response treatment and a shakeup of nursing management at the Den谋虂nu Ku台虂e台虂 Health and Social Services Centre.
Trudy King, Dollie Simon, Lucy Fabien, and Ramona Fordy, who all live in the South Slave community, say that the local health centre SA国际影视传媒� built in 2018 SA国际影视传媒� has had an array of problems largely because community nurses do not provide emergency response.
They allege incompetence from community nurses and management, a lack of patient-client professionalism, a lack of reliable staffing and even systemic discrimination. Commonly, they say they feel helpless when trying to voice their complaints.
King, who was born and raised in Fort Resolution, said she has had more than one serious health scare within the last year which she feels was not responded to with the urgency required.
One day last August, someone close to their family was suffering from cramps and visited the health centre. Upon arriving, she said the young woman, who has asked not to be named, was given an Aspirin and told to go home.
After she got home, the young woman unexpectedly delivered a baby girl, not knowing she was pregnant.
SA国际影视传媒淪he had a baby and thank God, I watch TV,SA国际影视传媒� King recalled. SA国际影视传媒淚 scooped the baby up and I called out toSA国际影视传媒� get me a clean towel. I wrapped the baby up in the towel.
SA国际影视传媒淚 took off to the health centreSA国际影视传媒� but the problem was that the health centre would not send anybody to the house.SA国际影视传媒�
In a separate incident, her son Jonathan experienced extreme pain in his midsection one day this past January. He went to the health centre and after being seen, he spent the next five hours yelling in pain.
SA国际影视传媒淚 asked the nurse on the phone why is she holding him there for nothing when heSA国际影视传媒檚 in a lot of pain, and while ISA国际影视传媒檓 talking to her on the phone, I could hear him yelling, SA国际影视传媒楳om, help me,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� King recalled.
She said the nurse eventually asked her to take her son to Hay River in her truck, but the vehicle was not roadworthy to make the two-plus hour trip.
She successfully advocated for the health centre to send a taxi to transport him to Hay River for treatment, she added.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey did a scan on him and from Hay River medevaced him at three oSA国际影视传媒檆lock in the morning to Yellowknife to find out that he had a hole in his intestine,SA国际影视传媒� said King. SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 very lucky to be alive.SA国际影视传媒�
Billed for babySA国际影视传媒檚 travel
SimonSA国际影视传媒檚 concern relates to medical travel as she said her family was charged for her grandsonSA国际影视传媒檚 medevac flight to Edmonton.
SA国际影视传媒淢y grandson was born two years ago and he had complications SA国际影视传媒� breathing problems SA国际影视传媒� in Yellowknife and so he was medevaced to Edmonton,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淢om couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 go and another baby was on the same flight. Mom went the next day.
SA国际影视传媒淢y concern is that although he was really well taken care of, he keeps getting a medevac bill for $4,500, on his name SA国际影视传媒� a newborn baby.
SA国际影视传媒淚 told (my daughter) not to pay it and he keeps getting billed.SA国际影视传媒�
Fabien, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 undergoing treatment for lung cancer, has to get regular bloodwork for her chemotherapy at the health centre. She said she has been kept waiting in the past when nurses were on duty and could have assisted her. There are also problems with staff laughing and gossiping, which doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 feel welcome, she added.
SA国际影视传媒淚 go there every week for eight weeks for bloodwork and then I have to take two weeks off,SA国际影视传媒� she explained. SA国际影视传媒淎 couple months ago, we went there for my bloodwork and they cancelled because they had an emergency. They said they couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 take my blood when there were three nurses there and the process only takes five minutes.SA国际影视传媒�
She said she was forced, at her own expense, to get the treatment she needed by travelling to Hay River.
Richard Edjericon, MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, said the amount of health-related stories he has been hearing since he won the byelection in January has been overwhelming at times.
He believes there is a different level of treatment that his constituents receive compared to what people get in larger centres.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey did build a $20-million facility (in Fort Resolution in 2018) but the services theySA国际影视传媒檙e providing are not the same as the services in Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� Edjericon said. SA国际影视传媒淭he (health staff) that are here (in Fort Resolution) donSA国际影视传媒檛 take their job seriously.SA国际影视传媒�
Edjericon said he believes that there needs to be a better connection between health centre staff and local residents.
Multiple people in the community told SA国际影视传媒 that a major source of frustration is a 2019 policy that prevents community health nurses from leaving the health centre to provide home emergency services.
Laney Beaulieu, a medical school student from Fort Resolution, told CBC last year that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lack of emergency responders, other than health nurses.
She said recently that the problem persists.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a big problem with high turnover and the no house-call policy has been very damaging for the nurse-patient relationship due to the contribution it has had to deaths in the community,SA国际影视传媒� Beaulieu said.
NTHSSA
NWT Health and Social Services Authority spokesperson David Maguire stated that the health authority aims to provide equal health service among all 14 communities, including Fort Resolution, and that there are formal avenues to complain when people donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel they get the service they deserve.
SA国际影视传媒淗ealth centre staff provide home visits for anyone who requires homecare (Elders, people with disabilities), (and) they also complete home visits for well-child appointments for newborns,SA国际影视传媒� Maguire said. SA国际影视传媒淧rovision of first response, such as responding to emergencies outside the health centre, is outside of nursing scope of practice and skillset.SA国际影视传媒�
He added that community governments often do provide ground ambulance on a full-time or part-time basis, and that the service is supported by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
In regards to medevacs, air ambulance fees are invoiced to patients who do not have active NWT health care coverage, according to Maguire.
When a client has access to third-party insurance or employer benefit, the cost of emergency transportation services may be invoiced to them to coordinate payment through their insurance or benefit provider, he stated. The NTHSSA provides a letter to clients explaining the process as well as a contact phone to call if they have questions, Maguire added.
