A freeze on planned births at Inuvik Regional Hospital will thaw as of Jan. 23, says Inuvik Regional Health Authority.

An announcement was made at 5 p.m., Jan. 19.

SA国际影视传媒漅egular birthing services will resume on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024,SA国际影视传媒� said David Maguire, NWT Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) media relations person. SA国际影视传媒淓mergency assessment and birthing services will be available in the time before full-service resumption. Pre-and-post natal assessments and care will continue. Anyone who is pregnant and requires assessment or who goes into labour should present to the IRH emergency department for care.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny individuals who were impacted by this service reduction and who may have travelled to Yellowknife for birthing services will be contacted and provided the option to stay in their current location or SA国际影视传媒� based on discussions with a clinician and determination if travel is safe SA国际影视传媒� supported to return to Inuvik to deliver.SA国际影视传媒�

Planned births at the hospital had previously been suspended from Jan. 11 to Jan. 22.

NTHSSA has been struggling to recruit specialized obstetric nurses since at least 2019, explained Maguire. In 2022, a similar staffing shortage forced Stanton Hospital in Yellowknife to reduce its service level for a full four months.

The health authority has been aggressively trying to hire specialized nurses but with limited results. Maguire said a call-out has been made to available staff across the territory and to casual staff to ensure the shortfall only lasts for four days.

He added the problem isnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily that there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 enough nurses willing to work in the North, itSA国际影视传媒檚 that there are not enough nurses period.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is a national nursing shortage and high demand across all jurisdictions for nurses; this is more acute in areas where specialized skills and training are required, such as obstetrics,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Inuvik Mayor Clarence Wood said heSA国际影视传媒檚 concerned about the staffing shortage, but noted he had not heard any concerns from residents worried about where they would be giving birth.

SA国际影视传媒淎ctually, I have had no complaints, although it is probably an inconvenience to have to go to Yellowknife to give birth,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat would be my only concern, so I really canSA国际影视传媒檛 comment other than that. The shortage of trained professionals is also concerning, not just at the hospital but territorial-wide.SA国际影视传媒�