The NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 health minister contends the territory has taken concrete steps to address its healthcare-staffing crisis following a statement from the union representing StantonSA国际影视传媒檚 healthcare workers.

On Jan. 13, the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) issued a public statement responding to the recent outbreak of Covid-19 at Stanton Territorial Hospital, as well as the ongoing staffing crisis at the facility. The statement argued that since the beginning of the pandemic, the GNWT SA国际影视传媒淸failed] to effectively recruit and retain qualified healthcare professionals.SA国际影视传媒�

Local 11 of the UNW represents GNWT employees at Stanton.

SA国际影视传媒淩ecruitment and retention of health care workers is complex and requires a dedicated and multifaceted approach by all involved,SA国际影视传媒� reads a responding statement attributed to Health and Social Services Minister Julie Green.

Green acknowledged policies and practices regarding workload, time off and compensation were the main causes of the staff shortage. Of the nine solutions for recruitment and retention highlighted in her statement, seven are still in some form of planning or consultation phase.

These include: A review of StantonSA国际影视传媒檚 leave policies, projected to be completed by the end of the month; Working with Human Resources to identify new and competitive forms of compensation for workers; Creating a task force to address concerns about workload; A survey of current nursing staff; Developing specialized training programs for nurses with the British Columbia Institute of Technology; Drafting a new Health and Social Services Human Resources Plan; and exploring SA国际影视传媒渕arket supplementsSA国际影视传媒� for positions that are hard to recruit for.

Green also said the NTHSSA had completed SA国际影视传媒渟ome direct engagementSA国际影视传媒� with staff, and was exploring ways for staff to more directly air their concerns with management in the future. She also highlighted the creation of a Health Recruitment Unit in December 2020 that was working to recruit new staff.

SA国际影视传媒淐ulture change takes time, and we are committed to doing it and doing it right to maximize our retention efforts,SA国际影视传媒� Green said.

In addition to criticisms of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 efforts to staff the hospital, the UNW letter said the GNWT had shown SA国际影视传媒減oor management of the precious resources we do still have.SA国际影视传媒�

In response, Green re-iterated in her statement the GNWT had met with the union and employees, and were exploring other options for employees to express their concerns.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are also looking to examine supports that are in place, and increase supports as needed for front line workers,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The UNW letter also stated the GNWT had yet to share SA国际影视传媒渟pecific action plans or timelines with the Union.

Green responded, saying only that SA国际影视传媒渢he GNWT has engaged with the UNW on these matters as recently as December 2021 and will continue to do so.SA国际影视传媒�

The UNW estimates it has about 420 members employed at Stanton.