The ambulance paramedic shortage in Alberta has reached a new level of desperation, causing firefighters to wait up to two hours for EMS to arrive, according to the union representing paramedics and the Alberta Firefighters Association. alberta.
The situation has left Mike Parker, president of the Alberta Health Sciences Association (HSAA), the union that represents the province’s paramedics, calling the problem a “deep red code”.
“Adding the word ‘deep red’ means there’s just nothing left. The crews are on their knees, they’re devastated,” he said.
The lack of ambulances has plagued an overworked and understaffed emergency response system in Alberta for the past decade, but it has gotten significantly worse since the start of the pandemic, according to Parker.
As a result, Alberta Health Services says a “high volume” of 911 calls has prompted it to bring in additional staff and ambulances, and deploy monitors, to help emergency medical services respond to demand in the Calgary region.
In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, AHS said it continues to see an increase of about 30 percent in 911 calls and an overall increase in all other types of calls.
EMS has hired additional staff and ambulances, is offering overtime to current staff and delaying some non-urgent transfers, AHS said.
“Anyone in need of emergency medical care will receive it,” the statement said. “We are making sure that the most critical patients are prioritized for immediate care.”
The comments come as firefighters and paramedics again express concern that the system is in crisis.
Matt Osborne, president of the Alberta Firefighters Association, said EMS has been in crisis for years.
“What we do know is that crews are on edge right now,” Osborne said.
“I have been a firefighter for more than 20 years and I had never seen it [like this].”
In February, the provincial government committed $64 million to deal with challenges in the EMS system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHS said the money will be spent during the next fiscal year and will go toward adding new ambulance crews, including five 24/7 ambulances to Edmonton and Calgary and additional 12-hour crews to Lethbridge and Red Deer.
“Increasingly we hear that there are not enough ambulances and paramedics, which means those fire crews are sitting on the scene waiting for an ambulance to arrive so they can transport the patient to the hospital.” Osborne said.
“Unfortunately, without the tools to do our job, now you see firefighters sitting on the scene because we’re listening for over an hour, up to two hours.”
As of Tuesday night alone, Calgary EMS had a backlog of 40 calls to respond to, Parker said.
“This is not new. This is a 10-year conversation and it only continues to grow.”
Parker said the government needs to focus on developing a new paramedic recruitment strategy, from education to job placement. He added that additional support is needed to retain employees who feel overworked and undervalued.
“We need people. We don’t have anyone left to do the jobs.”
AHS said EMS is using a 10-point plan to help build capacity in the system where possible and new ambulances are also being added in Calgary.
Reference-www.cbc.ca