The Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia have reason to be optimistic about changes to the provinceB次元官网网址檚 ambulance system, says Troy Clifford, president of the paramedics union.
B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e really excited about the opportunities that weB次元官网网址檙e seeing here,B次元官网网址� Clifford said. B次元官网网址淭his is really the first hope weB次元官网网址檝e had in a while that weB次元官网网址檙e on a path to getting back to the renowned ambulance service that we know we had and can get again.B次元官网网址�
On July 14, Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the changes, which included a new board that will be in charge of ambulances in B.C., funding for new paramedics and dispatchers, new ambulances and the conversion of 22 rural ambulance stations from on-call to 24/7 service.
RELATED:
RELATED:
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been sounding the alarm on our staffing shortages, our incredible call volumes, we were exposed to vulnerabilities during the heat crisis,B次元官网网址� said Clifford. B次元官网网址淕oing further than that, weB次元官网网址檝e been dealing with the pressures around workload and fatigue and incredible call volumes.B次元官网网址�
Since it is a province-wide system, ambulances can be dispatched from anywhere in the province to respond to calls. That means if a call comes in north of Campbell River and the closest available ambulance is based in Cumberland, that ambulance will respond to the scene. However, when communities have different service levels and staff issues, that can lead to frustration from other first responders and longer wait times for ambulances.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where (the fire department) are saying theyB次元官网网址檝e been frustrated because theyB次元官网网址檙e not seeing immediate responses,B次元官网网址� said Clifford. B次元官网网址淥ur partners as first responders like the fire department help us out in critical interventions, and thatB次元官网网址檚 part of their roleB次元官网网址� When theyB次元官网网址檙e seeing these delays, thatB次元官网网址檚 impacting patient care. TheyB次元官网网址檙e obviously frustratedB次元官网网址� The thing is they know this isnB次元官网网址檛 the paramedicsB次元官网网址� fault or the dispatcherB次元官网网址檚 fault.B次元官网网址�
He added: B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hopeful that this new model will address those needs so that we donB次元官网网址檛 see the delays that we have. Nobody should have to wait for an ambulance in their time of need. Every minute is eternity. When you call 911, you need to have immediate access. You canB次元官网网址檛 be put on hold.B次元官网网址�
Additional resources were announced for communities in the north Island in April, but there are still some communities in the area on the older on-call model, where paramedics are paid $2 per hour for their on-call hours.
RELATED:
B次元官网网址淥ur challenges around our precarious work in the smaller communities (is) with the on-call model, which is a $2-an-hour model that has not helped with our recruitment and retention,B次元官网网址� Clifford said.
Island communities that have not yet upgraded include Cumberland, Bowser and Port McNeill, which will all see upgrades in the near future.
B次元官网网址淩einforcing the ambulance service with more resources will further strengthen service for people on Vancouver Island. The work to convert 22 part time stations into full-time ALPHA stations will be of particular benefit in your region in the communities of Cumberland and Bowser. Further north, Port McNeill will also benefit from a conversion,B次元官网网址� said the Ministry of Health in a release.
There is also relief announced for the paramedics and dispatchers, who have faced a difficult year and a half and have a tough summer ahead of them.
B次元官网网址淭here are impacts on all essential workers and frontline people,B次元官网网址� Clifford said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a tough year and a half for society. In our province, weB次元官网网址檙e looking at a tough summer with fires and interface stuff, some natural disasters weB次元官网网址檙e seeing, industrial accidents and all this stuff that we do every day.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
Like us on and follow us on
