According to a report from Northern Health, dealing with the influx of patients relocated to the North because of last summer’s Cariboo wildfires cost the health authority $4 million.
However, Northern Health has received verbal assurances from the Ministry of Health that the amount will be covered by the province.
As of Oct. 5, Northern Health’s revenue was $1.3 million more than budgeted, but expenditures are $2.6 million over budget. According to the report, acute care accounts for most of the increased expenditures.
However, the report notes Northern Health is forecasting to be in a balanced position on base operations by the end of the year.