When 6 become 1: N.W.T. health superboard launched Aug. 1

Six health and social services authorities from across the N.W.T. have now joined forces to make one single health authority.

The territorial health and social services authority came into effect Monday, dissolving the region-specific authorities for the Beaufort-Delta, the Dehcho, the Sahtu, Yellowknife, as well as the authority in Fort Smith and the Stanton health and social services authority.

The territorial government says the single authority will make a difference for patients from smaller communities who travel to Yellowknife for further treatment.

Officials say the one authority will help streamline patients' information, like when they get blood taken; they will no longer have to have it done at both locations.

"It seems inconvenient and also to some degree a hassle for the patient to have those same procedures repeated. They won't have to be repeated because we'll be able to use the same system," Glen Abernethy, the N.W.T.'s health and social services minister, said in an interview earlier this year.

The health authority in Hay River will remain independent for now, eventually joining the single authority.

And the Tlicho region will still have its community services agency.