PUBLIC NOTICE: Service Level Update for Stanton and Yellowknife Region

YELLOWKNIFE (September 8, 2021) - In order to accommodate the redirection of resources to COVID-19 response efforts a number of service areas may see changes in process, delays, or cancellations.

If you have an upcoming appointment you will be contacted if it is cancelled or delayed. Otherwise, proceed under the assumption that your appointment will go forward. Any individual who has a procedure or appointment that is impacted will be contacted directly.

Must Know Information:

  • Urgent appointments will continue, if you have an issue that is serious or worsening and you require an appointment please still go ahead and book in the appropriate place.
  • Primary care clinics should continue to be the first call for acute care needs that do not require emergency services.All cancellations for all appointment types will be tracked and added to a call-back list
  • New routine or non-urgent appointments will not be booked, but added to the call-back list

Primary care service reductions:

  • Cancellation or delay of non-urgent procedures
  • Pap and other routine “complete physicals” cancelled
  • Pre-natal appointments changed to reduced schedule, every second appointment will occur virtually by phone
  • Week 2 and week 6 well baby checks will continue, other well-child checks may be deferred unless specific concerns are raised
  • Chronic disease management and mental health appointments shifted to virtual or deferred if appropriate
  • Diabetes Education Program (DEP) and Opioid Maintenance Treatment Program (OMTP) appointments to be triaged by care provider and changed to virtual where appropriate.

Stanton Territorial Hospital Service Reductions:

  • Pulmonary function testing is suspended for the time being to preserve Respiratory Therapy capacity.
  • Non-urgent exercise stress test may be suspended to allow for redeployment of staff to critical care.
  • Surgery/Operating Rooms: elective procedures that require same-day admissions will be reviewed and most will be cancelled. Further elective surgeries may be reduced depending on capacity.

Why are services being reduced?

  • Services are reduced to redirect resources – mainly people – to other services or areas to support actions directly related to COVID-19 response. These include: testing, tracing of contacts, providing support and advice to positive cases, and caring for those who are hospitalized.

What can the public do to help?

  • Help us protect our health system, now is the time to get vaccinated if you have not yet done so. People who are vaccinated are much less likely to get sick and end up in hospital.
  • Help us protect our health system by reducing the spread of COVID-19. If you - or your children – are sick, stay home and get tested. 
  • Help us to reduce the chance of exposure or transmission by coming alone to appointments when you can or bringing the minimum number of support people necessary.

For more detail on service levels see the Service Levels Dashboards.