Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.
Debates of March 6th, 2002
This is page numbers 389 - 426 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was pension.
Topics
Further Return To Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Supplementary To Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to get a commitment from the Minister to use his discretionary powers as Minister of Health and Social Services to encourage the working committee or the working group to look specifically at the challenges people with disabilities face on a daily basis in communities where there are transportation system difficulties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleague for his comments and advice, and very clearly by raising them in this House, he has brought them to the attention of myself as Minister as well as the people on this particular steering committee. We will take that as a clear signal that we should be taking that into consideration. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Question 152-14(5): Establishment Of A Disability Steering Committee
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my statement, I mentioned the lack of medical services to the smaller communities and I have a good example of that. I have a child in Snare Lakes that needs to see an eye specialist more often than regular people with good sight. He has retinitis pigmentosis disease. This is a disease that works on the eyes and eventually, people lose their vision. We get a specialist once a year into the smaller communities, but it is not enough to help these children and adults that are out there.
I would like to ask the Minister if he can tell me if he can increase that or can the department bring these people into Yellowknife as it seems they cannot get out of there for a referral? Thank you.
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has mentioned a very specific disease and illness. I will commit to having the department look at that. I will raise it with the Dogrib Health and Social Services Board. We will look at this as we move forward with our service delivery model and core service document and the kind of integrated service delivery model we want to develop for the communities. I will make sure that the Member is kept informed. Thank you.
Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for trying to work with the board. I think the problem here is that my constituent is having a problem getting out and I think the community service board is in charge of medical travel.
On the medical services overall in the communities, I had the chance of calling audiology in Yellowknife trying to book hearing tests. I understand they are booked until June. I would like to ask the Minister, how often do they have specialists coming up to the Northwest Territories for overall medical attention?
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 399
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have specialists traveling into the North on a regular basis in the different areas of practice. I do not have the specific breakdown of all the specialists and their area of practice or how often they travel to the North. I can commit to get that information for the Member.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just going back to the constituent of mine in the small community, is there any way if they were able to get here on their own they could be reimbursed by the department? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, the intent and the hope that I would have is that the medical services we provide, the people who are there and the infrastructure we have in place, are responsive to the needs of the patient and the people in the regions and communities they serve. If there is a requirement to be referred, that will be done. If there is a requirement for medical travel, that may be accommodated. If there are specific initiatives or specific examples or issues the Member wishes to discuss outside this House, I will be happy to take that information, track it down and see what we can do to ensure they get resolved. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he could get his department to maybe do some kind of patient survey for the smaller communities, because more and more we are seeing a lot of similar cases coming up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We always seriously check into issues raised in this House by Members. The one raised by my colleague will as well be given that same serious consideration. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Question 153-14(5): Access To Medical Services
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.
Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Item 6: Oral Questions
March 5th, 2002
Page 400
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have stated in my Member's statement, on average, people in Hay River receive their eye examinations once a year from an ophthalmic technician. I have already illustrated some common complaints that I have received from people in Hay River who have been examined by ophthalmic technicians who perform their eye examinations.
Would the Minister please indicate to this House what level of education is required for entry into the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Training Program? Thank you.
Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.
Return To Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have that level of detail in terms of the requirements or qualifications that my colleague asked for. I know he has a very important line of questioning, so I will not take that question as notice, but I will commit to get the information for him and I look forward to trying to answer the remaining questions he has. Thank you.
Return To Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Question 154-14(5): Ophthalmic Technology Training Program
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 400