The ongoing emergency-only status in Sanirajak鈥檚 health centre and in other communities is leading to worse outcomes and even tragedies, says Amittuq MLA Joelie Kaernerk, who highlighted the issue during his member鈥檚 statement in the Nunavut Legislature on March 6.
鈥淪ince last summer, the Sanirajak community health centre has constantly been on emergency services only. I do recognize health centres are understaffed, the nurses need rest and I greatly appreciate the service they provide,鈥� said Kaernerk.
He added that during after-hours emergencies, patients are often asked to call or use a virtual kit to determine whether or not it鈥檚 an actual emergency. However, patients often can鈥檛 or don鈥檛 have time to deal with that process, particularly when it鈥檚 an urgent concern, he contended.
鈥淭here are times in an emergency, it鈥檚 just that, an emergency, and people need to have confidence their emergency is going to be addressed in a timely manner,鈥� the MLA said.
Residents are asked to be patient, said Kaernerk, but 鈥渨hen community members are told to call out for assistance, or told to use the virtual kit, they anticipate the response,鈥� which entails waiting for someone to get back to them to determine whether their situation has been identified as an emergency.
鈥淚 call upon our government to take immediate steps to improve the levels of emergency service at community health centres,鈥� Kaernerk said. 鈥淣unavummiut should have the healthcare they need, when and where they need them 鈥� so that in an emergency they wouldn鈥檛 be left without a response or support before another tragedy occurs.鈥�
