The Yukon NDP isn’t letting the Liberal government off the hook when it comes to walk-in clinics and physician recruitment.

Last Tuesday, Vuntut-Gwitchin MLA Annie Blake renewed the call for the Yukon government to establish a walk-in clinic to serve territorial residents who don’t have a family doctor.

The clinic would replace the services of the Riverside Clinic in downtown Whitehorse, which is no longer offering walk-in services for routine things such as prescription renewals.

“(Two weeks ago), my colleague (Emily Tredger) stood in this house and shared the concerns of so many Yukoners who do not have a family doctor,” Blake said.

“(Last) week, we heard from an aging Yukoner who told us that he is giving up on waiting for a doctor in this town and just accepted that he will probably die a few years younger, and a nurse who told us that the number of people coming to the ER (emergency room) with non-emergencies is getting dangerous because they are mixing with very sick people during a pandemic.

“Yukoners agree that something has to change,” Blake said.

“Knowing all of this, why won’t the minister fix this crisis and open a public walk-in clinic?”

Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee once again didn’t address the question directly.

Instead, she provided a lengthy response regarding physician recruitment, shifting the focus of the conversation.

“I’m happy to repeat the answer and to continue with our progress in helping the medical professionals come here to the territory and add to our growing list of very competent medical professionals who serve Yukoners,” McPhee said.

“Honourable Speaker, much of Putting People First and the implementation of polyclinics is all about making sure that every Yukoner has a medical team in place to provide primary health care services that they need. Admittedly, that is future-looking.

“What we learned from Putting People First is that 21 per cent of Yukoners do not, at this time, have a family doctor. This is a national and global shortage.

“To recruit medical professionals, we work through national and online forums and supplement support staff with agency nurses and out-of-territory resources when we can,” the minister added.

“Hon. Speaker, the ‘find a family doctor’ program began in 2019 and, since that time, has not resolved every issue, admittedly. However, we have connected 1,058 people to a physician.”

Blake, however, was having none of McPhee’s explanation.

“Mr. Speaker, there are vacancies in nearly every Yukon community,” she pointed out.

“There are vacancies for nurses in Mayo, Teslin, and Haines Junction. There are also vacancies for mental health workers in Dawson and vacancies for youth and family mental health workers in Haines Junction and Dawson City.

“It is fine to talk about all the great programming and supports in communities, but when there is a revolving door of workers and continuous vacancies, everyone is affected.

“What is this government doing to recruit and actually retain health care workers?” Blake asked.

“As I have said, this is a national and global problem,” McPhee retorted.

“The Yukon is feeling the pinch of having issues around being able to recruit and retain nurses and doctors, as is every jurisdiction in the country.

“As we implement the Putting People First report, we are working to hire additional nurse practitioners and we are meeting with the Yukon Medical Association to address physician recruitment and retention.”