Ambulance staffing is approaching critically low levels, an alarming sight for communities such as Sooke who are already struggling with response times. 

B次元官网网址淭he health and safety of Sooke residents is a top priority, and the current state of ambulance services is a growing concern,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Maja Tait.  

Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. (APBC) reported Jan. 17 that ambulance staffing was approaching critical levels, citing overtime bans and budget deficits that have translated into front-line cuts to ambulances and increased response times.   

Despite the growth in Sooke over the past several years, Tait says that the district has not seen an increase in ambulance services. To fill the gaps, Sooke Fire Rescue Department (SFRD) has stepped up to frequently respond to medical emergencies. 

B次元官网网址淭his has placed increased pressure on Sooke Fire Rescue Services, which now responds to approximately 65 per cent of its calls for medical emergencies B次元官网网址� over 800 medical calls in 2024 alone, an 18 per cent increase from the previous year.B次元官网网址�  

The need for emergency services is certainly growing. B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) said it responded to 2,102 patient events in Sooke in 2024, a 15 per cent increase from the previous year.  

Sooke has two ambulances, one of which is staffed 24/7 by full-time paramedics, while the second is staffed by on-call paramedics within the community who carry a pager. But even these paramedics do not exclusively serve Sooke.  

B次元官网网址淏CEHS is a provincial ambulance service with no municipal boundaries. When an emergency occurs, the closest available paramedic unit responds," BCEHS said in a statement to Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror. 

B次元官网网址淥ur emergency medical call takers, dispatchers and paramedics are doing exceptional work in responding to the increased needs of the Sooke community.B次元官网网址� In recognition of the increased need for Sooke, they've developed several unique approaches to address the need in the area. 

B次元官网网址淲e utilize B次元官网网址榗ross-coveringB次元官网网址� whereby other crews in the region cover for that area when an ambulance based in Sooke needs to be deployed to respond to an emergency in another community.B次元官网网址�  

In addition to cross-covering, BCEHS explained that since November, ambulances have been able to transport low-acuity patients to a clinic in Sooke rather than travelling to Victoria General Hospital, keeping them available in the area. Two temporarily funded ambulances were also added to serve the Greater Victoria area in June 2024. 

However, concerns remain that response times are lacking in Sooke, even with SFRD helping out.  

B次元官网网址淥ur firefighters have stepped up to fill the gap, but this comes at a cost to the district, as we are supplementing a provincial service,B次元官网网址� said Tait.  

B次元官网网址淲hen residents call 911, timely ambulance response should be a certainty B次元官网网址� not a question. The alternative is that residents, or their loved ones, are left alone when they need help the most.B次元官网网址�  

Even BCEHS acknowledged the role SFRD is currently playing.   

B次元官网网址淏CEHS greatly appreciates our relationship with Sooke Fire Rescue Department in responding to urgent medical emergencies and motor vehicle incidents.B次元官网网址� 

Despite BCEHSB次元官网网址檚 attempts to address Sooke's need, APBC remains concerned that service cuts and low ambulance staffing will make longer wait times increasingly the norm.  

B次元官网网址淥ur low acuity calls are waiting longer than ever, and BCEHSB次元官网网址檚 deployment changes are hurting patients. WeB次元官网网址檙e hearing that patients are sitting for hours on the floor, or with first responders when they need to be transported to hospital by paramedics immediately. Now is not the time to cut front-line services.B次元官网网址�