Front-line health care workers will receive a retroactive pay bump to help offset the cost of child care services.

Health Minister Julie Green announced Dec. 21 the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) is working to SA国际影视传媒渃lose the gap on some of the additional costs associated with being a front-line healthcare worker during the pandemic.

The childcare cost reimbursement SA国际影视传媒渨ill be available to those who were required to be at the worksite and who were also impacted by school, class, or daycare/day home closures that led to childcare costs above and beyond what the individual would normally pay. The reimbursement will be retroactive to April 1, 2021.SA国际影视传媒�

Kim Riles, NTHSSA CEO, SA国际影视传媒渉as advanced a series of recommendations that advocate for some form of additional compensation for health and social services staff,SA国际影视传媒� according to Green.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Department of Health and Social Services is working directly with the Department of Finance, Human Resources to address these recommendations,SA国际影视传媒� Green said in a news release, adding that that some actions were taken specifically related to the obstetrics unit, which is currently closed and sending expecting mothers to Alberta to give birth.

The Union of Northern Workers has reported that resignations and extended leaves caused by low morale and burnout in the obstetrics unit and elsewhere in the hospital led to the current situation.

Green said Stanton Territorial HospitalSA国际影视传媒檚 chief operating officer has SA国际影视传媒渋nitiated a review of the leave policy in November 2021, including a series of staff engagement sessionsSA国际影视传媒� expected to conclude in January. A team of SA国际影视传媒渃linical leads and managementSA国际影视传媒� has been created to SA国际影视传媒渓ook at workload and staffing models.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淪tantonSA国际影视传媒檚 medical and nursing leadership are working to ensure that labour and delivery services will resume as soon as possible, with a focus on long term sustainability of these services,SA国际影视传媒� Green said in the release.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the interim at Stanton, additional positions have been approved and will be added to the OBS unit while the analysis of requirements is underway. This will not change the current staffing level on each shift but should allow for more stability and increase the flexibility of staffing options, including the addition of part time positions. Of course, the impact of this change will depend on the successful recruitment of staff.SA国际影视传媒�

This story will be updated.