A freeze on planned births at Inuvik Regional Hospital will thaw as of Jan. 23, says Inuvik Regional Health Authority.
An announcement was made at 5 p.m., Jan. 19.
”Regular birthing services will resume on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024,” said David Maguire, NWT Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) media relations person. “Emergency assessment and birthing services will be available in the time before full-service resumption. Pre-and-post natal assessments and care will continue. Anyone who is pregnant and requires assessment or who goes into labour should present to the IRH emergency department for care.
“Any individuals who were impacted by this service reduction and who may have travelled to Yellowknife for birthing services will be contacted and provided the option to stay in their current location or – based on discussions with a clinician and determination if travel is safe – supported to return to Inuvik to deliver.”
Planned births at the hospital had previously been suspended from Jan. 11 to Jan. 22.
NTHSSA has been struggling to recruit specialized obstetric nurses since at least 2019, explained Maguire. In 2022, a similar staffing shortage forced Stanton Hospital in Yellowknife to reduce its service level for a full four months.
The health authority has been aggressively trying to hire specialized nurses but with limited results. Maguire said a call-out has been made to available staff across the territory and to casual staff to ensure the shortfall only lasts for four days.
He added the problem isn’t necessarily that there aren’t enough nurses willing to work in the North, it’s that there are not enough nurses period.
“There is a national nursing shortage and high demand across all jurisdictions for nurses; this is more acute in areas where specialized skills and training are required, such as obstetrics,” he said.
Inuvik Mayor Clarence Wood said he’s concerned about the staffing shortage, but noted he had not heard any concerns from residents worried about where they would be giving birth.
“Actually, I have had no complaints, although it is probably an inconvenience to have to go to Yellowknife to give birth,” he said. “That would be my only concern, so I really can’t comment other than that. The shortage of trained professionals is also concerning, not just at the hospital but territorial-wide.”