Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I asked about same-day services this past March, I learned that there are 24 same-day appointments between the two Yellowknife clinics Monday to Friday and approximately 18 on Saturdays. Can the Minister clarify if that is for clinic appointments only or if those numbers include lab appointments, if those numbers are still accurate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With that level of detail, I would have to get back to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment from the Minister.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what steps are taken to fill empty spots that exist for same-day appointments with waitlisted patients, especially those with urgent and complex needs, such as elders and those with disabilities; and, if this isn't a thing, is there any contemplation of closing that gap. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Kind of a multiple question there, but I'll turn to the Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know from the information that I have that there are urgent slots at the Stanton Territorial Hospital lab site, and at the primary care lab site there are as well urgent designated times for the day. And when patients are, for instance, having surgery or something like that, they usually have a preop the day before. If they need to have blood work, they should be ensuring that they're utilizing their physician or whoever their preop was with to consult the lab to make sure that they have that appointment. And with waitlists, I know that they routinely try to fit in waitlists, so when people are there you can show up. There's so many booked appointments, and then you can sit and wait and attempt to get fitted in. There's also a waitlist you could put your name on and that they would contact you if something opens up throughout the day. And we encourage residents to pre-book appointments in advance. So if they know that they're -- you know, if they have ongoing routine blood work -- and I think that that's one of the things that if they have to have an appointment every so often, get their appointments for blood work done way in advance, there's certain things that they are working on to try and to reduce, as we are aware that there is an issue with the appointment times. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister. I know she's working on a communication strategy of how to explain that to the public better.
Mr. Speaker, will we see reasonable accommodations to make sure that folks aren't standing outside in the cold for a same-day appointment this winter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the lab staff arrive, I think -- I believe that -- you know, that's the issue, is that the place where they are downtown is the landlord is the responsible person and so the staff can go in, but the doors open at a certain time. And then the issue that was raised not just today but yesterday with the chairs, that that issue has been raised with the landlord; however, they do not recommend that chairs be in the lobby of the waiting area. They don't recommend that even moveable chairs that could go there and be removed. So this is an ongoing discussion that I will have NTHSSA continue to follow up with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
