Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like what the Minister is saying, and that is basically exactly what we have been saying in Simpson all these years; that from April 1,1990 to March 31, 1991, the hospital in Simpson recorded dealing with over 8000 outpatients. This year they have already seen about 6000 from April 1, 1991 to the end of February, 1992. At present, the hospital in Simpson is very under staffed. The head nurse works sometimes 18 hours a day, and she is run off her feet. We are also badly in need of equipment, and we have said that many times. There were a lot of patients sent out because we did not have the type of equipment there that was required to deal with them. If we do not have the equipment, then the patients will be sent to Yellowknife; we have a facility there, but we do not have the resources to deal with the patients right in Simpson; so, of course, they get sent over here.

What we have been saying is what you are saying: that if we had the resources to take care of our patients in our region, then certainly the place would be more utilized. I would like the Minister to take note of what I was saying, and if the department could get back to me on this as soon as they could. I will have some written questions to you later on. Mahsi.