Inuit come to Montreal for medical care. The lodge where patients stay is riddled with problems | 24CA News

For years, Inuit who flew south to Montreal for medical care have been relegated to a YMCA on the western fringe of downtown. 

Finally, in 2016, a brand new centre, referred to as Ullivik, was opened close to town’s airport. 

The new constructing has the looks of a boutique lodge from the road, with a stone Inukshuk out entrance and signage in Inuktitut. 

It was meant to function a spot of therapeutic for the a whole lot who come to town each month for therapy. 

But extra not too long ago, offering a welcoming setting has been a problem. 

Patients at Ullivik have posted dozens of photographs on social media of mattress bugs and unappetizing meals and complained about therapy by safety personnel.

The centre has additionally struggled with excessive workers turnover and allegations of mismanagement.

In the midst of this upheaval, Rita Novalinga was employed as director of Ullivik in November — its fifth since 2020.

“I have two roles to play: to be compassionate and to be a leader,” mentioned Novalinga, a former company secretary with Makivik Corporation, a company that represents Inuit in Nunavik.

“That’s what I’m trying to do with the people that need my help.”

‘All Inuit get lumped into this class’

The challenges forward are immense.

This previous August, two girls staying on the lodge have been struck and killed by automobiles on the close by freeway, lower than 24 hours aside. 

Their deaths are being investigated by Quebec’s coroner’s workplace. 

As properly, a web-based petition launched earlier this 12 months has practically 1,000 signatures. It describes the meals as “atrocious” and the workers as condescending to those that keep there. 

Nellie Tookalook was at Ullivik final month along with her son, who required surgical procedure on his damaged leg. 

Although she welcomed a spot to remain throughout a tough time, she mentioned the hallways have been darkish and the beds and pillows have been uncomfortable.

“They are no good for people who are healing from broken bones,” mentioned Tookalook. “They need to be changed big time.”

But her greatest criticism was in regards to the workers on the entrance desk, a few of whom she discovered disrespectful. 

She requested a room with a tub as a result of her son had a tough time utilizing a bathe after his surgical procedure. The room she was proven by an worker was soiled and too small. 

“I told him I don’t like how we’re being treated over there and he told me to talk to one of his supervisors and I asked who the supervisor was and he actually told me to figure it out myself,” she mentioned in a telephone interview. 

“The people who are there working for us, they need to be more understanding, more caring, and not be so rude.”

She mentioned many consumers really feel like their suggestions has been ignored. 

“I think the people that are running the place, they need to inspect the whole building. The showers, the beds,” mentioned Tookalook. “They need to go see for themselves to see what we’re talking about.”

Misty Tertiluk was at Ullivik for 12 days in October. She mentioned it was soiled and a workers member unexpectedly got here into her room to examine on her throughout the night time, in what she was later informed was a mix-up. Tertiluk mentioned she feared she could be sexually assaulted. 

“I don’t ever want to enter that building,” she mentioned in an alternate on Facebook.

Another girl who has stayed at Ullivik a number of instances, most not too long ago in September, mentioned the safety guards and the drivers who take sufferers to and from the airport are among the many greatest issues. 

She mentioned she has felt discriminated towards due to her background.

“All Inuit get lumped into this category, that all are drunks,” she mentioned. 

“They have the predetermined idea that every person is there just to be drunk.”

The girl, and several other different individuals who spoke with CBC, requested to not be recognized as a result of they depend on Ullivik and count on they might want to keep there once more once they obtain medical therapy.

According to Quebec’s Ministry of Health, greater than 5,000 sufferers made the journey to Montreal from Nunavik for medical care — together with about 2,000 escorts in 2019-2020. 

The following 12 months, the quantity dropped to about 3,800 sufferers and 1,500 escorts because of the pandemic.

Richard Budgell, a Labrador Inuk and an assistant professor within the division of household drugs at McGill University who teaches about Inuit well being, mentioned the apply of sending sufferers south for therapy — which is analogous throughout a lot of Canada — will be difficult for sufferers.

“You’re ill or injured and you’re a couple 1,000 kilometres away from home,” he mentioned. 

“So to provide an environment that is welcoming and that clearly has an Inuit orientation is challenging.”

Not large enough from the beginning

When the 91-room, 143-bed centre opened 5 years in the past, it was seen as a step ahead in health-care entry for Inuit dwelling in Nunavik, the autonomous territory in northern Quebec. 

Almost instantly, although, it was clear the area wasn’t large enough. 

Nunavik has two well being centres on its territory however for main interventions and extra complicated instances, sufferers should fly south to get therapy. 

On its opening day, Ullivik needed to lease 11 rooms in a close-by lodge to accommodate the overflow. 

Ullivik has since entered into an settlement with a close by lodge to tackle a number of dozen sufferers an evening. That lodge has additionally been the topic of comparable complaints, together with bedbugs and pressure with workers.

Ullivik was designed to deal with roughly 4,000 individuals a 12 months. Instead, the demand is roughly twice that (and Ullivik is on tempo to tackle much more in 2022).

The centre has a no-alcohol or medicine coverage, however it has struggled with controlling the issue. 

Between August and October 2022, one-third of the 826 incidents reported at Ullivik have been associated to alcohol or drug consumption, based on a presentation at a well being authority board assembly. 

The centre has a quiet room the place sufferers can sober up and has tried to enhance the state of affairs,in partnership with the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal.

The group is finishing up patrols to determine dangers within the space and what will be modified. 

It has additionally met with Montreal police and representatives from town of Dorval to debate methods to make the realm safer for pedestrians.

Allegations of mismanagement

Ullivik has additionally struggled with excessive workers turnover and allegations of mismanagement. 

A 2019 inside audit obtained by 24CA News detailed issues with the bookkeeping of Ullivik, together with awarding contracts with out tender and failing to maintain a file of some bills.

A former director, as an illustration, allegedly had remnants from the development of Ullivik – 21 containers of wooden flooring – delivered and put in at her private residence, based on the audit.

A 12 months later, the Quebec authorities ordered an investigation into Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, which oversees Ullivik. 

The board has been the topic of studies of mismanagement, and it has struggled with staffing shortages.

The provincial authorities has but to make its findings or suggestions public, although the Nunavik well being board confirmed it has obtained it. 

In an announcement, Quebec’s Ministry of Health mentioned it’s working with the board to use the suggestions specified by the report. 

A dedication to enchancment

At a latest board assembly, Novalinga was candid about some issues at Ullivik and mentioned she would do her finest to enhance the state of affairs.

She mentioned Ullivik is in search of extra Inuit workers and attempting to enhance the meals in collaboration with the corporate that has the contract.

One of her objectives is to develop Ullivik’s capability, given the reliance on the close by lodge.

“There’s about 13,000 Nunavik people, so we are growing fast,” mentioned Novalinga.

Asked in regards to the allegations of mismanagement, Novalinga informed CBC, “I don’t know anything about that.”

When requested in regards to the detrimental feedback about Ullivik on social media, she mentioned she’s attempting to get first-hand details about what’s occurring on the bottom.

To that finish, she mentioned she’s doing spot checks thrice a day — within the morning, throughout lunch and within the afternoon when the bus comes again from the hospital.

“I beeline for the elders to see how they are treated, what they are doing, what their needs are,” mentioned Novalinga. 

“I always tell them, if you have a problem, let me know, just flag me down and ask your escort to call me.”

More typically, Novalinga mentioned she’d wish to recreate a way of neighborhood removed from residence. Many of the actions Ullivik provided stopped throughout the pandemic, which created a sense of isolation.

If she will be able to discover the funding, she’d like to supply applications on-site corresponding to beading and stitching lessons, in addition to bingo within the evenings.

Tookalook is optimistic Novalinga could make these modifications – and hopes they’re made quickly.

“There needs to be a lot of fixing over there,” she mentioned.