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In an effort to recruit more staff at Stanton Territorial Hospital, the NWT Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) has launched a new temporary summer shift bidding system. The announcement was made by the health authority on Monday.

The system works like this: locum physicians can view open shifts at the hospital and submit a bid stating the pay they expect for that work.

The GNWT then decides whether to accept the bid, said Krystal Pidborochynski, NTHSSA's communications director, told 黑料吃瓜网 on Monday.

According to the health authority, the new system is designed to attract and recruit locum physicians for high-demand periods between July 15 and Sept. 2. It also comes in response from multiple unions demanding more competitive wages for locums, as now they are the ones empowered to bid their own worth. 

As well, that time frame is also a peak period for staffing needs at Stanton's emergency department, the authority noted, as many staff physicians request time off. 

The authority says it has already sent a callout for bids with existing and potential NTHSSA locum physicians last week.

There's nothing in the authority's release that explains how the GNWT will decide which bid is best if multiple bids are received.

Dan Florizone, NTHSSA's public administrator, stated that the new system might evolve over time. 

"We welcome the opportunity to implement it quickly to meet immediate needs and learn as we go," he said.

The health authority says it received approval for the initiative due to Stanton鈥檚 emergency department being a 鈥渦nique operational situation,鈥� serving as the main referral centre and gateway to advanced care for residents of the NWT and the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut.

Dr. Claudia Kraft, the territory's medical director, added that the initiative is a direct response to some feedback the authority has recently received.

"It鈥檚 also about ensuring that those working are not burdened with long hours or excessive back-to-back shifts," she said. "We want our [emergency department] to continue to be a place of work that is attractive to physicians."