Nurse shortage prompts state of emergency in Pimicikamak Cree Nation

A northern Manitoba First Nation declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, owing to a nursing shortage officials in the community described as a crisis.

Pimicikamak Cree Nation — also known as Cross Lake — is supposed to have at least 13 nurses working in its nursing station, but as of Friday, there were only four.

That means the staff who are available are experiencing burnout and a lack of sleep, while some patients are being turned away as the facility operates on an emergencies-only basis, a health official said.

"For people that don't know Cross Lake, where we're located, we are an isolated community and we don't have the other services," said Helga Hamilton, the health director for the community, which is about 550 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

"If we were in the city, if we were in Steinbach, Winkler, you can go to a walk-in clinic, you can go to all these other places to seek health-care," she said.

"We have just the nursing station here, that's it. We don't have any access to any other form of health care."

The shortage of nurses is not something that happened overnight, said Hamilton, but has now reached a point where it's critical. 

While the centre is supposed to be staffed with at least 13 nurses, the actual number the community requires is closer to 24, said Hamilton. Working with four nurses, some of whom are pulling 24-hour shifts, is "extremely dangerous," she said. 

"We need to find nurses where we can, as quickly as we can."

Pimicikamak Chief David Monias called on all levels of government to help rectify the situation. 

"It is Canada's responsibility. They have an … obligation to our people to provide these services under the Canada Health Act, along with the province," he said Friday.

Monias also said the First Nation needs its nurses and doctors so community members can get necessary care. 

"Health is a human right, it's a legal right, it's a treaty right, and we have to make sure these are fulfilled," he said. 

Hamilton also said physicians fall under the province's jurisdiction while nurses fall under the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, which is part of Indigenous Services Canada.