By rdnewsNOW staff

More EMS staff, ambulance coverage for Sylvan Lake

Dec 7, 2018 | 10:59 AM

EDMONTON – Alberta is hiring more paramedics and deploying more ambulances in an attempt to improve front-line medical care.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman says the province is adding 58 first responders in Edmonton and Calgary to go with more than 30 new hires in smaller centres, including Sylvan Lake.

She says there will also be 16 liaison officers for hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary to help paramedics when they deliver patients. The idea is to get paramedics back out on the streets faster.

“Albertans want to know that when they or their loved ones are in need of care in the face of emergencies, that they won’t have to wait,” said Hoffman.

Sylvan Lake is getting four new EMS staff along with expanded ambulance hours for 24/7 coverage.

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The province is also expanding home care that allows paramedics to treat vulnerable people and seniors where they live rather than having them go to hospitals.

The changes are being paid for by an extra $29 million included in this year’s budget, boosting overall emergency medical services spending to $524 million.

There are about 3,000 EMS workers in Alberta.

(With file from The Canadian Press)