Winnipeg councilmembers call for plan to add more paramedics, ease EMS pressure – Winnipeg | The Canadian News

Winnipeg city councilors are looking at ways to increase paramedical staffing levels and ease pressure on the emergency medical services (EMS) system.

Councilwoman Sherri Rollins of the Fort-Rouge East Fort Garry District introduced the motion, which was approved unanimously at Friday’s meeting of the permanent policy committee on protection, community services and parks.

Rollins told councilmembers it’s a “two-pronged approach” to increasing paramedic staffing levels.

The first is to quickly find ways both internally and with the help of Shared Health to increase full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing, possibly through expansion of the emergency paramedics in the community (EPIC) program to relieve pressure. of the EMS system.

EPIC handles low priority, non-emergency calls in the city.


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Shortage of first aid personnel


First Responder Shortage: December 30, 2021

The second “point” calls for a plan for the city to take more control over entry-level training and recruitment.

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The motion says that could include adding classes within the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Training Branch, or through post-secondary programs.

“We are seeing some numbers on our staff that we know may translate to the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service in terms of time lost from work and a track record with the Omicron variant that is concerning and I think requires a more direct response from the council. ”, Rollins said during Friday. meeting.

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The move comes just a week after the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals (MAHCP) raised concerns about the increasing number of hours ambulances are sitting idle due to staffing shortages.

Those concerns are mentioned in Rollins’ motion, but it also references staffing issues throughout the broader health care system that could have a “leakage” effect and COVID-related medical furloughs within WFPS.

WFPS chief Christian Schmidt told councilors that as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday there were 74 WFPS members “across the organization” with active COVID-19 who are currently not working.

But, he informed 680 CJOB that that’s not the only way the virus is straining resources.

“When things start to get busy in these emergency departments, doctors and nurses start having to find beds within hospitals to transfer inpatients,” explained Schmidt.

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“When those beds aren’t available and those moves can’t be made, it makes it hard for staff to take care of (patients) from our paramedics.”

Winnipeg Public Service and WFPS were instructed to file a report in June.

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