Some Nunavut health centres will be on emergency services or temporarily closed from Dec. 21 until early January 2024.
The Department of Health is currently predicting two closures: in Kinngait from Dec. 21 to Dec. 24, and in Arctic Bay from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2.
The closures are a result of a nationwide shortage of relief staff and healthcare professionals, according to the GN. As a result, the Department of Health has contingency plans for continuing urgent health services in the affected communities, while “also aggressively pursuing recruitment efforts,” the Department of Health stated on Dec. 20.
In communities where non-urgent health centre services will be unavailable or limited, the Department of Health will be using a combination of virtual health and paramedic services. Incoming calls will continue to go to the health centres, but will be directed to virtual support services, or automatically forwarded to other communities. Callers are asked not to hang up if there are delays or long wait times.
Paramedics will be on site to provide emergency or life-threatening care. Support staff will be available via phone to assist with routine services, such as filling prescriptions and medical travel. Those in need of prescriptions are advised to get them filled before the scheduled closure in order to avoid delays in receiving medication.
“Emergency services and closures are subject to change based on staff availability. Updates on closure status will be provided as they become available,” the GN advised.