(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

the long game

Boost to EMS funding ‘terrific,’ but Red Deer mayor still hopeful for return of previous dispatch model

Mar 11, 2022 | 4:57 PM

Red Deer and municipalities across the province are about to receive a funding boost that will bolster Emergency Medical Service (EMS) capacity.

The province noted in a release this week that Budget 2022, unveiled late last month, includes a $64 million increase — 12.2 per cent — to help EMS respond to high demand and stress on staff.

This means additional ambulances for Red Deer, which will see ambulance hours increase by one 12-hour shift each day in each of the next two fiscal years, a release states.

It also means a pilot project to be run in Red Deer which will manage non-emergency patient transfers between facilities through dedicated central transfer units. The government says this would free up ambulances to handle more emergency calls.

“EMS has been experiencing historic call volume and staffing pressures and we’re taking action by significantly increasing EMS funding to improve capacity and access,” says Health Minister Jason Copping. “We’re committed to making sure EMS has the resources they need, and I thank all paramedics and EMS support staff for stepping up throughout the pandemic and continuing to be there when we need them.”

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Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston says while it’s positive to hear the province is willing to try new things, they’d be remiss to forget about an ongoing third-party review of EMS dispatch changes implemented last year which several municipalities, Red Deer included, fought vehemently against.

“That remains our number one advocacy position, and our position has never changed as it relates to the loss of dispatch in our city. We still see it as the wrong move for Red Deer and the others affected. We’ve always spoken as one voice and do remain steadfast in saying that particular model provided the greatest level of service and health capacity for our users,” says Johnston.

“We are advocating for that model to be the working model for all Alberta. These pilots are terrific and if they’re designed to free up capacity, terrific. The 12 per cent increase is terrific. But let’s not lose sight of the strategic approach to ambulance dispatch, which we continue to believe is the best model. We’re obviously hoping that when the dust settles, our dispatch model returns to Red Deer.”

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) also reacted to the provincial investment, saying the steps announced show Premier Kenney doesn’t understand what needs to be done to ensure people who need care, get it.

“ECOs and paramedics respond to Albertans in emergencies, not ambulances. People make the system work. For ten years they have been dealing with increases in call volumes. Kenney himself said demand has increased 30 per cent this year. The system is stretched beyond its capability and the only thing holding it together is its people,” says Mike Parker, HSAA president.

“AHS treats our EMS members as expendable rather than the highly valuable professionals they are. Paramedics and ECOs deal with non-stop calls during any given shift and are pressured into accepting excessive overtime. They don’t get breaks and are often denied vacations. The result is unacceptably high rates of burn out, physical and psychological injury, and people leaving the profession.”

The HSAA told rdnewsNOW they don’t have specific details about the Red Deer pilot project, also saying that while it’s nice of the province to say it will add more shifts in Red Deer, it’s not been made clear who’ll actually staff them.

The HSAA, which represents 28,000 health care professionals, says three things are needed immediately:

1. A plan to retain paramedics and emergency communications officers we currently have.

2. A plan to train and recruit more paramedics and emergency communications officers.

3. Reinstate harm reduction programs to ease the burden on EMS.

“All HSAA members want is to be able to be there when people need them,” concluded Parker.

The full announcement can be read at alberta.ca.

READ MORE: Red Deer mayor and council pleased by announcement of third-party review of ambulance dispatch