Fuel spill adds limitations to Western Nunavut community's health services

The Judy Hill Memorial Health Centrein Taloyoak, Nunavut,remains closed for regular servicesnearly two weeks after an oil spill took place in the recently-constructed building.

All health services have been moved to thecommunity's old health facility until further notice, according to a Wednesday news release fromNunavut's Department of Health.

The department said a fuel spill cleanup at the Judy Hillcentre is still ongoing. The spill was first announced by the territory on Aug. 18. At the time, the department saidemergency services wouldstill be available in asection of the health centre that's still "free of fuel fumes."

The department also said at the time that thecommunity's dental team wouldbe moved to Cambridge Bay until the health centre could be brought back to full operation.

In the Wednesday release, the territory said health services will continue tobe limited to emergencies only.

"Once services can resume at the new health centre, the Department of Health will notify the public," the release said.

During the health centre's closure, the number of patients requiring transfer to another community are too few to report, said Danarae Sommerville, a spokesperson for the department.

In 2021, Taloyoak's health centre also closed for a time due to flooding.

The centre usually offers full-time health care, public health and emergency medical services, as well as visiting and tele-health specialist services.

The health centre, built in 2015, is named after Judy Hill, a nurse who died in a medevac plane crash in 1972.

Nunavut's department of Community and Government Services is handling the fuel spill cleanup efforts, but has not yet provided an update on the size of the spill or remediation efforts.

Residents in need of services are asked to phone the nurse on call at 867-561-5111, and arediscouraged from going tothe health centre directly.

Those with COVID-19-related questions who do not require treatment or a vaccine appointment, are advised to call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-888-975-8601.