Watson Lake Mayor Chris Irvin and town council say they’re “disheartened to learn that promised long-term care beds are no longer a certainty,” according to their understanding of statements made last month by Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.

Town leaders say the southeast Yukon community is in “desperate need of improved health services and long-term care options.

“Last year, our community was excited to learn that Watson Lake Hospital was to see an increase in staffing and services via long-term care beds,” Irvin and Watson Lake council said last Thursday.

“Per the minister’s November 24, 2022 press release, this service increase included ‘two long-term care beds ... with 4.5 full-time equivalent Licensed Practical Nurses to provide 24-hour support, seven days a week.’

“Many small communities in Yukon, including Watson Lake, struggle to find health professionals like nurses, doctors, and paramedics,” the town’s statement continues.

“Mayor and council, our health professionals, and other affected community members were obviously happy to hear the news that our services were seeing an increase.

“Mayor and council were equally shocked and confused to learn that this is no longer in the government’s immediate plans.”

McPhee told the legislature last month the plan announced in
 late 2022 does not suit the community’s preferences.

“To be clear, at no time since the minister’s announcement last year has our council, nor the community of Watson Lake, opposed increased health services and staff at our hospital,” the town’s statement said.

“Minister McPhee’s statements directly contradict recent communication the town has received from her department officials, and we are disappointed that the minister appears to be deflecting blame to the community for the Health department’s failure to put these resources in place.

“As since the time of the announcement last year, the Town of Watson Lake, along with our community, stand ready to support the Government of Yukon in putting these resources in place for the improvement of our community and better long-term care of our aging population,” the statement continued.

“Mayor and council stand in solidarity with our community and health professionals. We want these services and jobs at our hospital and in our community,” Irvin said.

“We issue this statement to correct the record and emphasize that there is no hold-up on our end. Let’s work together to put these services in place.”

Cabinet communications staff advised the Star Friday that the Department of Health and Social Services “has been working with the Yukon Hospital Corporation to integrate two long-term care rooms into the Watson Lake Community Hospital to increase supports in the community.

“We want to be clear – at no time have we announced a cancellation of the two long-term care beds,” the statement added.

“Earlier this year, we conducted online and in-person engagements with the community of Watson Lake, as we committed to gathering community input on the living spaces of the two long-term care rooms, including furnishings and décor, to ensure they are welcoming and culturally appropriate.”

Two in-person sessions were held last March 28 and 29 in Watson Lake, with 55 people attending. As well, there were 18 responses to the online survey, which ran for three weeks.

“We heard through this information gathering that the proposed two long-term care rooms at the Watson Lake Community Hospital are not enough; the community is aging, and the need to support people in Watson Lake is growing,” said the cabinet’s statement.

“We also heard that the community wants to discuss the current and future needs of seniors and elders in Watson Lake and the need for a long-term care facility – not two long-term care beds embedded in a hospital.

“As such, the opening of these rooms has been put on hold as we seek to best understand local needs and values. This will help inform planning for the delivery of future programming.”

A community needs assessment is underway, the statement noted.

“We will continue to work to assess opportunities to support Yukoners, including through the implementation of the Aging in Place Action Plan and Putting People First report.”