A toll-free, 811 health advice line is now available in all communities across the NWT, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, Health and Social Services Minister Julie Green announced today.
Dialing 811 puts you in contact with a registered nurse who can evaluate your situation and give advice on non-urgent health issues. Anyone living in the NWT can call 811 through a landline, cell phone; or if hearing impaired, Canada Video Relay Service (VRS). This confidential, quick access service is also available in all of the territory’s official languages.
811 has proven to be an effective way to bring peace of mind to residents, especially in remote settings, when they need prompt answers and clarity around general health questions. Callers can also ask about communicable diseases, including influenza, COVID, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis and how and when to get tested. Residents with urgent medical concerns should continue to use the 911 emergency response line.
Callers can request to remain anonymous while obtaining access to health information. In addition to GNWT privacy oversight, 811 service providers have adopted industry best practices in managing confidential and sensitive health information to ensure safety and security of residents’ information.
All 811 nursing service providers are licensed to work in the NWT and have completed cultural safety training as part of the GNWT’s commitment to provide high quality medical advice free from discrimination. 811 nurses will also be able to direct calls to other family health and support resources, such as the Poison Control Line, Mental Health Services, Quitline and Indigenous Residential Schools resolution.
Any concerns, questions or feedback about the NWT 811 Health Advice Line can be directed by email to: healthlinefeedback@gov.nt.ca
If residents experience an issue when trying to connect to 811 directly, they can contact their phone service provider to request a fix. Anyone who cannot connect directly to 811 can access the service by calling the toll-free number at 1-844-259-1793.
Quote(s)
“The NWT 811 Health Advice Line is a quick way to obtain non-urgent medical advice on general health matters. It is not meant to replace going to see a nurse or doctor, but it can help you know when you can manage your symptoms at home and when you need to seek additional medical help. With this new initiative, the GNWT joins every other province and territory in Canada in offering residents a reliable source of medical information available any time of day or night from a place that is convenient for them. The 911 service will continue to be the first choice for urgent issues.”
- Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services
Quick facts
- 811 often helps avoid going to a medical clinic or emergency room which can help reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19.
- 811 registered nurses have received specialized training in telephone advice using clinical algorithms like Schmitt-Thompson, which are used in 95 percent of phone health advice centres across the world.
- An 811 call lasts 12 to 16 minutes on average, and all the information is stored electronically in a secure environment with access to registered nurses only.
- NWT 811 Health Advice Line can also be reached toll-free by calling: 1 (844) 259-1793 if using Canada VRS for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech-impaired; or if Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) users want to use the service.
- The service is available in all NWT official languages.
- Residents will not be able to connect to 811 if they have Wi-Fi calling turned on in their device settings.
- Companies that have a private branch exchange (PBX) phone system will need to program the system to allow external calls to 811.
Related links
For media requests, please contact:
Jeremy Gibson Bird
Manager, Communications
Department of Health and Social Services
Government of the Northwest Territories
(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034