Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We think it’s important to make changes to the Medical Travel Policy. We have many issues with the policy. We actually know of cases where individuals that didn’t speak English were sent to Yellowknife or even Edmonton where they said translation could be provided. Clearly, in the Medical Travel Policy it says that a patient would require an escort if they needed translation. We have some issues with the policy on how it is being applied so we want to centralize back into the department. It is essentially done for the whole territory out of Stanton and I think out of Inuvik also. We would have to look at that again and try to develop something that made sense. I don’t think there should, actually, if you just look at it from a common sense perspective, I don’t think there should be a magic number which is 65, that once you hit 65 you all of a sudden need an escort to go about your medical business, whether it be here or down south. I think we should apply something that is reasonable and I don’t really think it should be tied to age.
Tom Beaulieu on Question 203-17(4): Medical Travel Escort Policy For Seniors
In the Legislative Assembly on March 7th, 2013. See this statement in context.
Question 203-17(4): Medical Travel Escort Policy For Seniors
Oral Questions
March 6th, 2013
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