Madam Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on October 18, 1994 regarding interpreter services for patients travelling south.
Madam Speaker, the medical travel policy does not provide escorts for unilingual escorts escorting children. Interpretation services are available at all centres defined as the "nearest centre."
Larga Limited in Edmonton offers Inuktitut, Slavey and Dogrib interpreter services. In Winnipeg, the J. Hilde Medical Unit offers Inuktitut interpreter services. The Churchill Health Centre offers Inuktitut and Cree interpreter services. Baffin House in Montreal offers Inuktitut, French and English interpreter services.
In cases where a unilingual mother accompanies her child on scheduled flights, interpretation services are arranged at the treatment destination. Prior to departure, the community health nurse or patient referral officer provides the patient and/or escort with an information card developed by the region. This card provides details on who to contact if problems occur during travel.
When the mother and child must change aircraft, the community health nurse or patient referral officer notifies the patient referral officer in communities where the stopover occurs with information on arrival time, departure time and other requirements such as interpretation services. The patient referral officer then makes arrangements for the necessary services.
Madam Speaker, I have two further returns to oral questions.