The GNWT is exploring its options for an agreement that would allow residents of Fort Liard to be referred to Fort Nelson, B.C. for medical care.
The territorial health authority and the Department of Health and Social Services are in ongoing discussions with the B.C. Northern Health Region and Fort Nelson General Hospital to form an agreement, said the Department of Health and Social Services.
Those conversations are a welcome development, said Shane Thompson, MLA for Nahendeh.
“We have communities that are close to the B.C. border, and using the Fort Nelson services would be a positive step for them,” said MLA Shane Thompson.
The GNWT is meeting with community leadership in Fort Liard to “discuss challenges and opportunities that community members face when accessing services,” said Umesh Sutendra, a communications specialist for the Department of Health and Social Services in an email.
“Some of the challenges that need to be addressed in order for residents of Fort Liard to access health services in B.C., are the continuity of clinical care for patients, integration of services and follow-up,” said Sutendra.
Navigating the complexities of sharing of patient medical records between the NWT and B.C. will be an additional challenge, he said.
A commitment by Minister Glen Abernethy to push forward on bilateral agreements instead of waiting to finalize its agreement with Alberta is a “positive step,” said Thompson.
Using Fort Nelson is “closer and better for the patients,” said Thompson, adding that flying from Fort Simpson to Yellowknife and sometimes eventually to Alberta for medical visits adds up to significant travel time.
“The problem is that we as the GNWT have an arrangement with Alberta and Edmonton, that if we can't get a specialist in Yellowknife, we have to go to Alberta,” he said.
“That's a long trip for elders especially, but even with people that are not feeling well and sick, that's a long trip,” said Thompson.
Depending on the trip, there could be three-or four-hour delays in the Yellowknife airport.
Comparatively, travel by car from Fort Liard or Nahanni Butte to Fort Nelson takes two and three hours, respectively.
“It's the frustration,” he said. “I haven't heard of anyone saying 'I'm not going to go for an appointment.' It's just that it's long and it's inconvenient.”
Working with the B.C. government on a memorandum of understanding would make medical travel more convenient, he said.
“This has been going on for 25 years so when I ran for office, I heard that from Fort Liard. One of my first member statements was about that,” he said.
The GNWT was previously planning to work out an agreement between B.C. And the NWT after finalizing its plans with Alberta, but has since changed its tune, said Thompson.
“I'm two and a half years into a four year term and we've been asking the questions and asking the questions behind the scenes,” said Thompson. “This time ... the Minister made that commitment. I was very excited to hear that and him making that commitment on the floor was a positive step.”
“People can access Fort Nelson on their own,” he said, but patients are often absorbing some travel costs.
“I'm very happy that the Minister has made that commitment and I'm looking forward to have something in place by the fall or sooner,” said Thompson.
Through its discussions with B.C., the GNWT will determine whether a service agreement for residents of the Dehcho is feasible.
The government is also exploring extending territorial healthcare access to Albertan residents in Smith's Landing First Nation.
That includes a request that the GNWT be responsible for administering federal non-insured health benefits for registered Smith’s Landing First Nation residents.
“We are open to engaging with Smith’s Landing First Nation, the Government of Alberta and the federal Department of Indigenous Services Canada on this matter,” said the department.