Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in this House I expressed my concerns as to the shortage of nurses in the community of Tuktoyaktuk and consequently the cut back of health services at the nursing station in Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to expand on the issue of health services available to the residents of Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, over the summer I had the opportunity to discuss the growing problem in recruiting health staff for nursing stations in my riding with the nurses in Paulatuk.
Apparently the problem goes beyond the recruiting of nurses and doctors. I was informed that in an effort to cut medical travel costs, the regional health board had imposed a policy whereby a nurse in the settlement could no longer approve medical travel for patients. The approval for medical travel has to come from the doctor in Inuvik. This has resulted in many patients having to wait for the doctor's monthly visit to the community in order to see a doctor. Needless to say, this has put a further responsibility on the nurses to diagnose patients illness and the required treatment. Mr. Speaker, I am told that as a result of the shortage of qualified nursing staff in Tuktoyaktuk, a policy has been implemented whereby anyone wishing to see the nurse now must be referred by the receptionist.
The receptionist is not a qualified nurse and no doubt, her job description did not require her to be a qualified nurse in order to fill the receptionist position. This person is being required to make decisions effecting a person's health which places responsibilities over and above her normal responsibilities. As an example, Mr. Speaker, under normal conditions, the receptionist upon being approached by a member of the general public would simply pull the persons file and have that person wait in the waiting room until a nurse is available to see them. Not anymore. The person wishing to see the nurse now must first convince the receptionist he/she is in need of medical attention.
Mr. Speaker, Tuktoyaktuk is down to two nurses from a normal staff of four. I understand there is a possibility one of the two nurses left will be leaving shortly. Will this result in a member of the general public having to be referred to a nurse by the health centre janitor in order to receive medical treatment? Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time today, I will be asking the honourable Mr. Ng, Minister responsible for Health and Social Services questions in this regard. Thank you.