The Hay River Health Authority announced yesterday evening that there will be no doctor in their emergency department from May 9 to May 16.
“There will be no physician in town providing Emergency Coverage. Nursing staff and virtual support will be in place,” the health authority posted Friday on social media.
Public access to emergency care services will continue with a “reduced number of practitioners” and “virtual support.”
Without a doctor present in-person, nurses and medical staff are consulting with doctors using a “virtual care model.”
Hay River Health Authority advised the public that the situation “may” affect waiting times for patients seeking medical attention.
The health authority said that any residents seeking medical advice, can call 811 at any time to speak with a Registered Nurse.
True North FM reached out the the Hay River Health Authority for more information and will share those details when they become available.
Last month the Hay River Health Authority announced that there would be no doctor in the Emergency Department for five days beginning April 28.
In place of a doctor, the health authority had two Nurse Practitioners in the community to support Medical Clinic operations.
The Hay River Regional Health Centre is experiencing many staffing shortages which are causing major disruptions to care.
“Like many regions across Canada, the Northwest Territories continues to experience a shortage of skilled healthcare workers. This ongoing national and territorial staffing shortage continues to impact local health services,” the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority had announced on Facebook on April 24.
The organization explained that they are working hard to fill gaps by recruiting permanent staff, locums and casual workers.
“Short-term strategies are in place to help reduce staffing risks, while long-term efforts continue to build a more stable workforce,” they said.
At that time, any patient visiting the Hay River Regional Health Centre ER was triaged by nurses, who consulted with a doctor by phone.
On April 30, N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority announced an increase in pay for locum physician rates which will come into effect but not until June 1.
“This adjustment aims to provide more consistent and competitive daily rates for the valuable work locums provide and ensure the health and social services system remain competitive and is seen by locums as competitive across the dynamic Canadian market,” said N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority in an April 30 announcement.
On June 1, N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority will activate various strategies to help attract and retain doctors.
