Nursing shortages in Arviat could leave some thinking theySA国际影视传媒檙e in Third-World conditions, Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main said in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.

The communitySA国际影视传媒檚 health centre is put on reduced or emergency-only services during stretches of the summer because there are too few nurses.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need more health care staff for two reasons: number one is the obvious reason, to protect the well-being of Nunavummiut and to assist them when theySA国际影视传媒檙e sick; and number two is to protect the existing health care workers and make sure they donSA国际影视传媒檛 get burnt out and make sure that they can build a life here in Nunavut and that they can stay here in Nunavut provide those essential services to our residents,SA国际影视传媒� Main said.

Health Minister George Hickes acknowledged that understaffed facilities make it difficult to provide proper health care. However, the challenge of recruiting more nurses is a nationwide problem, he said. The GN often relies on casual or agency nurses because there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 near enough who are willing to stay long term.

Arviat has 11 nursing positions and itSA国际影视传媒檚 essentially fully staffed now due to tuberculosis testing nurses being on site, Hickes said. But shortages can likely be expected again next summer, he predicted.

Main asked whether a doctor could be stationed in Arviat since the population would justify it. The health minister wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 make a commitment.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wish I could just say yes or no; itSA国际影视传媒檚 a little complicated. As I alluded to earlier, ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking at with my departmental officials on different staffing options with health centres across the territory. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 go into details on it right now,SA国际影视传媒� said Hickes. SA国际影视传媒淚 do want to at this point just basically again ask for some more patience. We do have some plans and options that weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at internally to see how the staffing levels of all health centres could be looked at to provide better care overall.SA国际影视传媒�