Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister recently provided an update on the model of care in small community health centres, highlighting the improving care in small communities. Has the department examined whether an after hours home care support model should be added as a new policy direction to strengthen safety for elders in communities with limited emergency options? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as that -- the model of care is the health centre model; however, the home care program is currently an ongoing program that is in the small communities. It's in all of our communities. Within that program, the -- any community member can, you know, self referral or to have an assessment done for home care and home support services. As those home care and home services needs are, then the health authority then reviews the staffing that is needed for those areas. And so when it comes to after hours, if there's a -- you know, if there's a great need to be able to add extra staffing and evening and weekend hours, those assessments are currently done. Thank you.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has noted the need to balance the right mix of healthcare professionals in health centres and health cabins. Has the department assessed whether expanding the role of home care workers to include limited after hours support would help achieve this balance provided mix -- provider mix in small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just, the program itself right now -- and I believe within the -- especially within the small communities, you know, we get federal funding, we use some internal funding, and that funding is done through intake through home support assess -- or home care assessments. The needs of the clients are assessed by the nurse, then those -- the hours are given to the home support workers as the needs, and not always can every small community has extended hours. At this time, the -- you know, within the -- within their job descriptions and within their work hours, some of our communities do have expanded hours and, you know, we continue to do assessments in all communities to see the need if there is a need for expanded hours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Given that ongoing access to health care that is safe, reliable, and equitable is a top priority for the Minister for this government for the Northwest Territories health and social services system, will the Minister commit to engaging directly with community governments, Indigenous leadership, and local home care teams, to determine whether an after hours home support model aligns with community needs, cultural expectations, and existing capacities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to say my department is already doing that. Within the Department of Health and Social Services, we do have the northern wellness agreement, and we do have the First Nation and Inuit home and community care that we do provide services for our residents. Within the northern wellness agreement, the department works directly with every single community leadership, Indigenous, because that money flows to the Indigenous governments, and the Indigenous governments are the ones that come up with their community plans. So they could use that funding for health and health promotion in any way that they see fit and within that -- then they make the agreement, and then the funding flows directly to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.
