If you’ve been trying to book an appointment to see your doctor — or any doctor, for that matter — chances are you’ll either have to wait for a cancellation or hope for a return call.
The Yellowknife Primary Care Centre has been hit by a higher-than-normal rate of calls for same-day appointments, according to a release from the NWT Health and Social Services Authority on Friday morning.
David Maguire, the authority’s manager of communications, stated that the health facility is making sure as many appointments as possible will be made available, but staff shortages are impacting the level of service.
The release added that rising demand due to respiratory viruses (influenza, RSV and Covid-19) is the main reason for the growing wait times.
Multiple employees with NNSL Media attempted to make same-day appointments on Thursday and Friday, but were told none were available. One employee left a voicemail on Thursday in the hopes of receiving a response, but that call had gone unreturned as of Friday.
One Yellowknife resident told NNSL Media that she tried to book an appointment with her family doctor and was told that no such appointments were being scheduled. The options she was given was to either try to book a same-day appointment or go to the emergency room at Stanton Territorial Hospital.
When it comes to Stanton, the release stated that both the intensive care and in-patient units have been hit hard. This past week, admitted patient numbers exceeded the bed capacity at the hospital. That has meant some patients who have been admitted may be held in the emergency department until a bed opens up.
The emergency department itself has been busier than usual as well. When asked whether patients may be sent home if their condition isn’t deemed serious, Maguire said no one would be turned away if they went.
“Everyone would be assessed and triaged, (but) the wait for individuals with lower acuity issues (less serious) is expected to be longer than usual,” he said.
If you’re unsure whether you should try to book an appointment or visit the emergency department at Stanton, you’re asked to call 8-1-1 and speak with a nurse. Anyone who has an emergency or other serious symptoms should call 9-1-1.