Public Notice: Dates Updated for Service Reduction to Obstetrics at Inuvik Regional Hospital

Public Notice

(Inuvik, October 30, 2024) – Following the public notice issued last week, the NTHSSA is happy to inform expecting parents in Inuvik that efforts to enhance staffing levels at the Inuvik Regional Hospital (IRH) to support obstetrics has been temporarily successful and the suspension of service dates have been modified. The new dates are as follows:

  • Effective November 4th, 2024, the temporary suspension of labour and delivery services at the IRH that was announced in September will be lifted until December 14th, 2024.
  • On December 15th, 2024, the NTHSSA will reinstate the temporary suspension of labour and delivery services at the IRH. At this time, this diversion of care is expected to continue through to at least January 11th, 2025.
  • The NTHSSA will continue efforts to find qualified obstetrics nurses to support of the safest provision of care and services for residents. As staffing levels change, adjustments to the temporary suspension of services may be made and patients will be notified as updates become available.   

During the temporary suspension of labour and delivery services at IRH, the following measures will be implemented:

  • Patients who were planning to give birth in Inuvik and who are 36 weeks or more in their pregnancy during this timeframe, 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. 

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.

Background

This ongoing change in service levels for labour and delivery at IRH is related to the continued significant reduction of available qualified obstetric registered nursing staff. Service levels will continue to be reassessed and adjusted as necessary based on current and expected staffing levels in support of the safest provision of care and services.

The NTHSSA understands that the ongoing service level reduction may cause concern for residents. As previously communicated, our goal remains improving core staffing levels either through new hires or training of current in-territory staff to ensure we have the specialized staff required to support these services safely and sustainably. 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.

Should this information change or as more information becomes available, the NTHSSA will provide updates.