Province dedicates $20 million to paramedic service improvement

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

A welcomed budget item gave some relief to taxed emergency medical services on March 22, when Alberta’s Finance Minister Frank Cicci dedicated $29 million to build halls, buy ambulances and hire new medics.
The service has been undermanned and overworked and the Health Services Association Alberta (HSAA) is pleased with the announcement.
“We’re relieved to see that the government has abandoned the two-year spending freeze on ambulance services it proposed last year. The six-per-cent increase of $29 million in that item this year should help provide some of the extra ambulances and paramedics that Albertans desperately need,” said Mike Parker, president of HSAA.
“HSAA will be keeping a close eye on where that money is spent to ensure it goes to the front lines where it’s needed.”
It may ease stress on the medic’s front lines, and maybe reduce the posts on AlbertaEms@StatusCodeRed Twitter site that indicates no available ambulances, if the money goes to front line care.
However, it may not solve the protocol problems surrounding hospital turnout times and roving deployment without a review and consults with rural communities.
Parker indicated many other areas in Health Services also need assistance; he is hoping some of the three per cent increases in the overall health budget will be applied to other needy areas.
“There are currently 800 unfilled jobs for health care professionals – positions that haven’t been filled because of a squeeze on spending,” said Parker. “That means missing respiratory therapists, social workers, counsellors, lab workers, MRI technologists – there are people missing throughout our system who should be there to help and treat Albertans.”
He said the union would keep lobbying for improved patient care and support for front line workers, and hopes Albertans will continue to support health care workers’ efforts to improve the system.