Staffing shortages still impacting ambulance wait times in Nova Scotia
A day after a Nova Scotia woman shared her story about driving her son to the hospital after waiting for an ambulance, her provincial politician is calling for better services and accountability.
It was during a Canada Day celebration in Pugwash, N.S., when Felicia Holden’s eight-year-old son passed out twice after playing in a bouncy castle.
The mother called 9-1-1 but a 40 minute wait led her to drive her son to the hospital herself.
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, the MLA for the area, says hundreds attended the annual Canada Day festival and there should have been an ambulance on site, or near the festival.
"In my opinion, there should be policy in place by the province that whenever there are large gatherings like that, there should be an ambulance within 10 to 15 minutes," said Smith-McCrossin. "To ensure there could be a safe response time.”
The province has contracted out Emergency Health Services to a private company which manages ambulance services and paramedics.
Charbel Daniel, ground operations executive director for Emergency Health Services says staffing challenges are an issue.
"That day [Canada Day] was no exception to the staffing challenges we’ve been facing on any given day," said Daniel.
Normally EHS would have 128 ambulances during peak activity at their 63 stations across the province.
Daniel and the Nova Scotia Paramedics Union both said they didn’t have a full roster on Canada Day, and its one factor leading to longer wait times.
"We’re averaging over the last five months, anywhere from 20 to 25 per cent of our units are offline," said Kevin MacMullin, Nova Scotia Paramedics Union business manager. "That’s because they [ambulances] can’t be staffed because we’ve lost paramedics that have left for other professions or other companies in other regions."
It’s a difficult situation, but EHS has been working on the issue as they have hired 80 paramedics so far this year.
But they still have 38 permanent paramedic vacancies to fill, a number that constantly changes says EHS, as staff move around or switch to new roles within the system.
Daniel adds staffing shortages at hospitals are also having an impact on ambulance wait times as emergency department hours are being cut and weekend closures are becoming more common.
"Sometimes you have to transfer further distances because the ED [Emergency Department] is closed," said Daniel. "The second and most significant impact is, that with fewer hospitals to transport to, we wind up with more patients."
The union says wages for paramedics in Nova Scotia are among the lowest in the country and the government needs to address the wage disparity immediately to help with retention and recruitment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Whooping cough outbreak declared in Newfoundland
Health officials say there is an outbreak of whooping cough in eastern Newfoundland.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
NEW How Canadians can watch the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest
Europe’s top pop stars are out and about for the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, taking place in Malmo, Sweden.