PUBLIC NOTICE - NTHSSA Service Update, Fort Smith Health Centre and Northern Lights Special Care Home

Public Notice

(Fort Smith – August 11, 2023) The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) is providing notice to the public about actions being taken in response to evacuation alert issued for Fort Smith on August 11, 2023.

Starting immediately and progressing over the next 24 hours:

The Fort Smith Health centre remains open for emergency services; however services may be reduced at any time if required to assist with response activities or if the evacuation alert escalates. If the situation escalates to an evacuation order residents should follow the advice of the Town and Emergency Management Officials and be aware access to health and social services may be further limited within the community.
In-patient admissions are being redirected until further notice; any new patients who need to be admitted will be directed to other care sites. Travel will be coordinated through the normal channels of medevac or scheduled flights depending on the patient’s condition.
Residents who recently returned to the Northern Lights Special Care home will be evacuated as a precautionary measure. Next-of-kin as identified on client medical records will be notified with details about where their loved-ones will be moved to, if you are a family member who is listed as the contact on a residents medical record please watch for calls from the health centre or check your voicemail, as we may not be able to reach everyone on the first attempt.

Any further changes to health and social services operations in Fort Smith will be communicated via public notice issued at www.nthssa.ca and via social media channels. For the most current information on available services please contact the health centre.

If you are seeking general medical advice, please call 811, if you are experiencing a medical emergency call 911.

The NTHSSA would like to extend a thank you and recognition to our partners at the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority and our staff who continue to go above-and-beyond to provide support in response to wildfire emergency events across the territory.