In a public notice, the territory’s health and social services administration said it had to cut services at Fort Smith due to staff shortages related to reasons unrelated to [sa] will.
The health center will therefore focus on its walk-in service and urgent follow-up appointments.
Non-urgent requests for health services may be postponed, depending on public health.
We recommend that residents who need non-urgent health services such as a prescription refill, lab test request, or getting results, call the primary care clinic nurses at 867- 872-6259 or 867-872-6324 so that we can determine the best way to [les] help, indicates the administration.
According to the latest census, the Municipality of Fort Smith has a population of just over 2,500.
According to the Public Health Administration, the territory has not been spared by the shortage of health workers that afflicts many communities in the country.
Nunavut recently had to announce the temporary closure of some of its health centers.
“The increase in demand [pour le personnel soignant] has helped ensure that fewer substitutes than usual are available to work in the NWT. this summer and this fall ”, indicates the government.
“The loss of several permanent doctors in recent months, mainly due to family relocations, has only worsened this shortage. “
The administration still ensures to continue its work to attract more caregivers to the territory.
A recurrent issue
This is not the first time that services have had to be cut back at Fort Smith due to understaffing.
In January 2020, others unforeseen circumstances had resulted in a staff shortage.
In August 2018, the center had to close the doors of the medical clinic for two weeks because of similar problems. The administration of health services then blamed the summer vacation.
