The Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia, CUPE Local 873 has been running our Critical Condition Campaign for the past four years. We have been speaking to the local politicians about the deteriorating ambulance services in their communities. While we are now in Collective Bargaining we have not halted our campaign for a better ambulance service for the citizens of British Columbia.

 

We have completed a report card on the British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) . <Critical Condition Campaign - BCAS Scorecard> Over all, the performance of BCAS is dismal. There appears to be no clear direction to keep the provincial ambulance service moving forward. The paramedics of BC understand, as the UBCM members do, there is only one tax payer in BC. The BC Ambulance Service and its parent, the Emergency and Health Services Commission (EHSC), do not take seriously, the obligation they have to provide proper ambulance resources to the communities they serve.

 

A recent joint report by the Ambulance Paramedics of BC and BCAS Operations Executive Directors was not supported by the BCAS Provincial Senior Executive Team (SET). The report showed short falls in the Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey corridor. <Staffing and Workload Vancouver June 6 2008>  Lack of resources in these areas means that patients are not receiving  a timely emergency response from BCAS.  96 ambulance hours per day were requested by the joint committee in addition to three new ambulance stations. BCAS upper management rejected the 96 hours and instead granted 44 hours a day and no new ambulance stations. BCAS hopes other changes to service delivery, such as downloading ambulance transfers to the private sector will free up more ambulances. Sadly, it is clear that the BCAS Senior Executive Team (SET) in Victoria does not understand; not surprising as the SET are government appointees without any background in paramedicine.  

 

BCAS is downloading responsibility for emergency medical responses to the municipalities. BCAS has met with local Fire Chiefs and is supporting an effort to increase municipal fire responses to medical emergencies.  <Cameron Report Critique - Fire Department Medical response> Creating a second tier of medical response by utilizing municipal emergency responders puts the public at greater risk while downloading the cost to the municipality. What is needed is proper resourcing of ambulance resources not a downloading of paramedic responsibilities to the lesser qualified first aid responders. Mayors and Councils in BC should be asking BC Ambulance Service about response times and paramedic qualifications in their communities. UBCM members need to know whether their ambulance response is under 9 minutes for the most serious calls. BC Ambulance committed to having Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) as the minimum qualification in a 2004 memorandum of agreement. Instead, BCAS staffs many communities with Emergency Medical Responder (EMR), first aid, and driver only employees who have no medical training. To find out which paramedic qualification and what level service is available in your community, ask BCAS for your community “Establishment Report.”

 

The UBCM must take action and ensure that the EHSC and BCAS are meeting their responsibilities under the Emergency and Health Services Act. The provincial ambulance service is bleeding. The tax payer is in danger. Only the UBCM can move the provincial government. We ask for your help. Please take the time to read the linked reports.

 

Contact APBC Public Relations Director, BJ Chute, at 604-218-6169 or APBC President, John Strohmaier, at 604-790-0873 for any comment or additional information. Log on to www.saveourparamedics.com to learn more.