Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), Alberta's union of healthcare professionals, says Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been warned for years it was failing in managing EMS services in the province. .And now an elderly Calgary woman may have paid with her life..Mike Parker, HSAA president, made an emotional plea to AHS and the Alberta government to intervene with a massive investment in the healthcare system before more Albertans needlessly die. ."The tragic death of this elderly woman in Calgary highlights a long-standing issue we have been dealing with in this province," Parker told the Western Standard on Tuesday.."What this family is going through, this community that's in mourning, this is what our members are seeing every single day." ."Our system continues to remain in a code-red and they are doing all they can." .Parker said failed management by AHS and failed government policy is leading to a "mass exodus" of workers. ."These traumatic situations are devastating to our workers, yet they have to go right back out on the road," said Parker. ."The mental health impacts on these crews has been horrible and we saw these trends coming long ago." .Parker said the union was talking about an increase in population with "zero increase in resources" 10 years ago. ."We've basically seen somewhere between a 5% to 6% increase in calls annually," he said. ."We have, on average, 400 vacant shifts per week. It's not a vehicle issue, we have no people to fill them." .The lack of workers and the closure of what Parker called "wrap-around services" such as safe consumption sites and safe shelters for those in need have all created a "perfect storm" imposed by the government making poor decisions. ."We have a large casual workforce that needs to be moved to full time," said Parker who indicated it takes roughly three and a half years to complete EMS training. ."We have this massive exodus and no one is coming in the door. And, now supports for folks in need are being closed including rural hospitals." ."No one else treats their frontline workers in such a fashion." .Following the mauling death of an elderly Calgary woman on Sunday, AHS said it launched a review of the 30 minute response time from EMS. The incident happened in the community of Capitol Hill, less than four-km from Foothills Hospital. ."AHS is charged with overseeing the administration of EMS response," said Parker. ."Everything falls on the shoulders of the minister of health." .Minister of Health Jason Copping asked to see the results of the AHS review as soon as possible. ."The minister shares Calgarians’ concern that 30 minutes passed from the initial 9-1-1 call, to when an ambulance arrived on the scene," said Copping's press secretary, Steve Buick.."But it’s also important to get the facts clear, starting with the information from the scene that came in with the initial call to 9-1-1. We need to know what information EMS had and when, before we can judge how the call was handled.".Buick said the minister will share all the information publicly as soon as possible.."Regardless of the details of this particular call, we know EMS is under strain and we’re adding resources as fast as we can," said Buick.."Four new fully staffed ambulances will be on the street in Calgary by the end of June, plus a new non-emergency transport vehicle to free up ambulances for 9-1-1 calls; and five more ambulances by the end of September."."Calgarians need to be safe in their neighbourhoods and they need to know an ambulance will come when they call 9-1-1.".Parker said the province is "so far behind in resources" that the Government of Alberta's commitment to add ambulances in the province "is not even significant." ."All they'll be is empty vehicles next to the other empty vehicles because we don't have the people to man them," he said. .Parker said at this point, he will take anything that will help right now but said the province's move "isn't courageous, nor is it an investment that is significant." ."This doesn't solve what happened on Sunday. It's this canary in a coal mine that reveals the damage that's been done over the last 20 years." ."All our members want is to be there when people need the care." ."These crews know what they are facing; it's people's worst nightmares and they just keep going." .Parker said he is committed to talk about EMS issues and wants to do so "with anyone who has the ability to fix it."
Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), Alberta's union of healthcare professionals, says Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been warned for years it was failing in managing EMS services in the province. .And now an elderly Calgary woman may have paid with her life..Mike Parker, HSAA president, made an emotional plea to AHS and the Alberta government to intervene with a massive investment in the healthcare system before more Albertans needlessly die. ."The tragic death of this elderly woman in Calgary highlights a long-standing issue we have been dealing with in this province," Parker told the Western Standard on Tuesday.."What this family is going through, this community that's in mourning, this is what our members are seeing every single day." ."Our system continues to remain in a code-red and they are doing all they can." .Parker said failed management by AHS and failed government policy is leading to a "mass exodus" of workers. ."These traumatic situations are devastating to our workers, yet they have to go right back out on the road," said Parker. ."The mental health impacts on these crews has been horrible and we saw these trends coming long ago." .Parker said the union was talking about an increase in population with "zero increase in resources" 10 years ago. ."We've basically seen somewhere between a 5% to 6% increase in calls annually," he said. ."We have, on average, 400 vacant shifts per week. It's not a vehicle issue, we have no people to fill them." .The lack of workers and the closure of what Parker called "wrap-around services" such as safe consumption sites and safe shelters for those in need have all created a "perfect storm" imposed by the government making poor decisions. ."We have a large casual workforce that needs to be moved to full time," said Parker who indicated it takes roughly three and a half years to complete EMS training. ."We have this massive exodus and no one is coming in the door. And, now supports for folks in need are being closed including rural hospitals." ."No one else treats their frontline workers in such a fashion." .Following the mauling death of an elderly Calgary woman on Sunday, AHS said it launched a review of the 30 minute response time from EMS. The incident happened in the community of Capitol Hill, less than four-km from Foothills Hospital. ."AHS is charged with overseeing the administration of EMS response," said Parker. ."Everything falls on the shoulders of the minister of health." .Minister of Health Jason Copping asked to see the results of the AHS review as soon as possible. ."The minister shares Calgarians’ concern that 30 minutes passed from the initial 9-1-1 call, to when an ambulance arrived on the scene," said Copping's press secretary, Steve Buick.."But it’s also important to get the facts clear, starting with the information from the scene that came in with the initial call to 9-1-1. We need to know what information EMS had and when, before we can judge how the call was handled.".Buick said the minister will share all the information publicly as soon as possible.."Regardless of the details of this particular call, we know EMS is under strain and we’re adding resources as fast as we can," said Buick.."Four new fully staffed ambulances will be on the street in Calgary by the end of June, plus a new non-emergency transport vehicle to free up ambulances for 9-1-1 calls; and five more ambulances by the end of September."."Calgarians need to be safe in their neighbourhoods and they need to know an ambulance will come when they call 9-1-1.".Parker said the province is "so far behind in resources" that the Government of Alberta's commitment to add ambulances in the province "is not even significant." ."All they'll be is empty vehicles next to the other empty vehicles because we don't have the people to man them," he said. .Parker said at this point, he will take anything that will help right now but said the province's move "isn't courageous, nor is it an investment that is significant." ."This doesn't solve what happened on Sunday. It's this canary in a coal mine that reveals the damage that's been done over the last 20 years." ."All our members want is to be there when people need the care." ."These crews know what they are facing; it's people's worst nightmares and they just keep going." .Parker said he is committed to talk about EMS issues and wants to do so "with anyone who has the ability to fix it."
