Red Deer to call on AUMA to support independent review of EMS dispatch changes

The City of Red Deer wants a third-party review of Alberta Health Services’ EMS dispatch system and to investigate outages and an increase in delays since dispatch was consolidated in early 2021.

On Monday, city council unanimously approved a resolution to be taken to the annual convention of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) this November.

The system was consolidated in January and primarily affects the municipalities of Red Deer, Calgary, Wood Buffalo and Lethbridge.

“This resolution profiles a fact — and it’s a point we’ve made since day one — that even though Red Deer, Lethbridge, Calgary and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (are the key players), this is the final consolidation of ambulance dispatch in the province, so the true consequences were really not known until that occurred,” said Mayor Tara Veer during the meeting, noting many outlying communities are also feeling the impacts.