Public Notice
(Inuvik, August 15, 2024) - The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) is announcing an extension to the temporary suspension of labour and delivery services at the Inuvik Regional Hospital (IRH). This extension will run through October 15th, 2024.
During this period the following measures will continue to support patients:
- Patients who were planning to give birth in Inuvik and who are 36 weeks or more in their pregnancy between now and October 15th will be contacted and advised to transfer their care to Stanton Territorial Hospital (STH) in Yellowknife.
- Pre-and-post natal assessments and care will continue at IRH.
- Anyone in Inuvik who is pregnant and requires assessment or who goes into labour during this time is asked to please present to the IRH emergency department for care.
This service reduction is related to the continued significant reduction of available qualified obstetric registered nursing staff. Efforts continue by the NTHSSA to recruit for qualified staff. If you are a qualified obstetrics nurse with the credentials and ability to work in the NWT, please visit www.gov.nt.ca/careers/ or www.practicenwt.ca/en/hss-careers.
The NTHSSA will continue to monitor staffing levels. Should shortages persist, an extension of service reduction or reintroduction may be required and will be announced at the appropriate time.
All impacted patients will be contacted as early as possible. If you are approaching your delivery date and you have not been contacted or need more information, please call Inuvik Primary Care at (867) 678-8041.
Should this information change or as more information becomes available, the NTHSSA will provide updates.
For media requests, contact:
NTHSSA Communications