Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health. Madam Speaker, the Minister, just today, has referred to a proposed agreement that the Department of Health is thinking of entering into with the province of Alberta, particularly with the Royal Alexandra Hospital. I know that item was on the radio yesterday, and I have had some calls from constituents. I would like to get some clear understanding of just how this proposed agreement will affect the current situation, where through reciprocal billings agreements with provinces, NWT residents can go to any hospital in Canada. Will this agreement with Alberta change the reciprocal billings agreements with other provinces?
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
In the Legislative Assembly on February 25th, 1994. See this topic in context.
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 379
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 379
The Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.
Return To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
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John Pollard Hay River
No, Madam Speaker, it won't. This agreement will be merely the destination -- as Charles Camsell was for many, many years -- referral hospital for the western Arctic and Kitikmeot, so it won't affect anything else. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Return To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. Perhaps, just for clarity, what about in situations where a patient may now have a history with a doctor in Edmonton who does not have privileges at the Royal Alec. Will the patient have to find a new doctor or will the patient still be able to go the hospital where the doctor has the privileges?
Supplementary To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.
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John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's the same situation that we had when we brought in the closest centre policy, and we'll have to work through those problems. I understand there are going to be some patients who say my doctor works at another hospital and your arrangement is now with the Royal Alec. We're going to have to work through those problems. As we've managed to convince people that we can deliver a service at Stanton Yellowknife, then I think it will be up to us to convince people that they can receive similar levels of service as other Edmonton hospitals, at the Royal Alec. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Further Return To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 379
The Speaker
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
February 24th, 1994
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Supplementary, Madam Speaker. The Minister talks about convincing people that they can get the same services at another hospital. I'm sure that as Minister of Health you will recognize the importance of maintaining continuity when you have a physician. Is he saying that when you're going to work through this problem, there will be some weight given to the need to maintain the same physician you have a history with?
Supplementary To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
Page 379
The Speaker
Thank you. Minister of Health, Mr. Pollard.
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John Pollard Hay River
Madam Speaker, the situation is that people in the Northwest Territories have doctors and nurses who they go to for treatment. Those doctors and nurses make referrals at times to either a regional hospital, like the one in Inuvik, the Baffin or Stanton. Sometimes they make referrals to other jurisdictions, be they Manitoba, Quebec or Alberta. Many times, those doctors will refer to another doctor in Edmonton. That's acceptable. For those people who have gone to see the same doctor time and time again, as I said, we're going to have to work through that problem.
But, what we're interested in, and the boards are interested in, is whether we could provide the same level of service at the new facility and I believe everybody's happy that this new facility can provide the same levels of service. Where I get problems with people who say that they've always attended a certain doctor and he/she doesn't have privileges at the new hospital, then I'll endeavour to work through the problem with those people. But, the main centre for referral is going to be the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Further Return To Question 219-12(5): Nwt/alberta Hospital Agreement Affect On Nwt Residents
Question 219-12(5): Alberta/nwt Hospital Agreement Affect On NWT Residents
Item 5: Oral Questions
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The Speaker
Thank you. Time for question period has lapsed. Item 6, written questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.