The shortage of paramedics in ambulances in Alberta has reached a new level of despair, leading firefighters to wait up to two hours for the EMS to arrive, according to the union representing paramedics and the Alberta Firefighters Association.
The situation left Mike Parker – president of the Alberta Association for Health Sciences (HSAA), the union representing the province’s health workers – 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 are devastated,” he said.
The lack of ambulances has plagued Alberta’s congested and inadequate emergency response system over the past decade, but has deteriorated significantly since the pandemic began, according to Parker.
As a result, Alberta’s health services say the “high volume” of 911 calls has encouraged it to attract more staff and ambulances – and deploy supervisors – to help emergency services respond to demand in the Calgary region.
In a statement to CBC News on Tuesday, AHS said it continued to see an approximately 30% increase in calls to 911 and an overall increase in all other types of calls.
EMS has recruited additional staff and ambulances, offered overtime to current staff and delaying some non-urgent transfers, AHS said.
“Anyone who needs urgent help will receive it,” the statement said. “We ensure that the most critical patients are given priority to receive immediate care.”
The comments come as firefighters and paramedics again express concerns that the system is in crisis.
Matt Osbourne, president of the Alberta Firefighters Association, said EMS has been in crisis for years.
“What we do know is that the crews are stretched to the breaking point right now,” Osborne said.
“I have been a firefighter for more than 20 years and I have never seen him [like this]”
In February, the provincial government pledged $ 64 million to deal with it challenges in the EMS system caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
AHS said the money would be spent next fiscal year and will focus on adding new ambulance crews, including five 24/7 ambulances to Edmonton and Calgary and additional 12-hour crews in Lethbridge and Red Deer.
“We hear more and more that there are not enough ambulances and paramedics, so that means these fire crews are sitting there waiting for an ambulance to show up so they can transport that patient to the hospital,” Osborne said.
“Unfortunately, without the tools to do our job, you now see firefighters sitting still, as we hear for more than an hour, up to two hours.
On Tuesday night alone, EMS in Calgary was behind with 40 calls to answer, Parker said.
“This is not new. This is a 10-year conversation and it just keeps growing.”
Parker said the government should focus on developing a new strategy for recruiting paramedics, from education to employment. He added that additional support is needed to retain employees who feel overwhelmed and underestimated.
“We need people. We don’t have people left to do the work.”
AHS said EMS is using a 10-point plan to help build capacity in the system where possible, and that new ambulances are also being added to Calgary.
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