For the second time this year, Inuvik Regional Hospital (IRH) is suspending birthing and obstetric services.
Anyone in the area who goes into labour will be redirected to Yellowknife. The suspension is in place from June 30 until at least Sept. 8.
"Patients who were planning to give birth in Inuvik and who are 36 weeks or more in their pregnancy between now and Sept. 8 will be contacted and advised to transfer their care to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife," reads the June 28 notice. "Efforts will be made to ensure emergency labour and delivery care is available at IRH during the service reduction, however this cannot be guaranteed.
"Pre-and-post natal assessments and care will continue at IRH. Anyone in Inuvik who is pregnant and requires assessment or who goes into labour during this time is asked to please present to the IRH emergency department for care."
The GNWT stated that the reason for the suspension is a shortage of obstetric nurses. The notice cautions that if it cannot find enough staff by Sept. 8, the suspension could be extended.
Patients who are impacted are being contacted, but the notice adds that if patients need more information, they can phone Inuvik Primary Care at 867-678-8041.
"In an effort to avoid or reduce the duration of this service reduction in Inuvik, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) has completed external and internal callouts for staff with the required skills to redeploy to Inuvik and has contacted casual staff to determine interest," the notice indicated. "Nursing staffing agencies have also been contacted to determine if qualified staff can be recruited through this avenue to assist with staffing the IRH obstetric service in the short-term until staffing has re-stabilized. To date, these efforts have yielded limited staff to assist, but not enough to avoid this service reduction. The NTHSSA will continue these efforts on an ongoing basis."