Public Notice: Service Reduction to Obstetrics at Inuvik Regional Hospital Reinstated

Public Notice

(Inuvik, September 23, 2024) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services (NTHSSA) is announcing the reinstatement to the temporary suspension of labour and delivery services at the Inuvik Regional Hospital (IRH). This diversion of care will run from October 1st through November 3rd, 2024.    

During this period 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. 

This diversion of care 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.

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 more information, please reference the attached Inuvik Obstetrics Emergency Services Q&A.