For the second year in a row, the shortage of summer relief staff for Nunavut community health centers will force some of these centers to close or reduce services this summer.
“Some communities in Nunavut may expect their health centers to be temporarily closed, or see a reduction in services, during the summer,” said a local government press release.
The press release does not say where or when the closures will take place. He says communities will receive two weeks notice via local radio and social media, as well as a reminder one week before closing.
The government blames the closures on the national shortage of health professionals and says it is “aggressively pursuing recruitment”. Similar closures were announced in Nunavut last summer.
The news comes as respiratory illnesses are resurfacing in the territory, causing more medical evacuations (known as medical evacuations) and pushing the territory to resume its VRS immunization program for vulnerable babies.
Between May 15 and 27, a community, Arviat, saw 16 medical evacuations.
The Department of Health said it plans to use a combination of virtual healthcare and flight clinics to fill healthcare gaps during health center closures.
During temporary closures, “paramedics are on site to provide emergency or life-threatening care.”
Calls to health centers that are closed “can be automatically forwarded to other communities,” the press release says.
“There may be a delay during this time, but it is recommended that callers do not hang up.”
Vaccines against COVID-19 will continue to be available by appointment.