New ambulances announced in Alberta, paramedic's union says not enough
There are 10 new ambulances in Alberta, but industry advocates say there aren't enough people to operate them.
Tuesday, AHS announced that Edmonton and Calgary will each get five new ambulances, and 20 paramedics to help operate them.
AHS reports that 911 call volumes have remained at 30 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels, with an increase of 60 per cent since 2010.
In addition to higher demand, AHS said in a press release that staff illness and fatigue have contributed to pressure on paramedics.
The announcement was met with criticism by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), the union representing Alberta paramedics.
"When you hear information, like adding resources to a system that is under pressure that needs the additional resources, I'll take that as good news every day of the week," Mike Parker, HSAA president, said. "The reality I have though, is that we're sitting at over 500 vacancies this week in the province."
"The situation is so dire today. We have the vehicles sitting there, the physical ambulances are sitting there, we just don't have the people."
Parker said that code-reds, called when there are no crews available to respond to 911 calls, are an everyday event in Alberta. He added that new ambulances are a good thing, but that focus should be on staffing to keep all ambulances on the road.
"As I've said, this is a step in a positive direction. We need a few more steps in [a] positive direction. Maybe it's time to start running in a positive direction to take care of the folks who take care of us," Parker said.
Parker said finding more full-time staff is needed,with less than 50 of the last 1,100 paramedic hires in Alberta being full-time. AHS should work on making Alberta a preferred employer to attract paramedics from across the country and help keep the ones already working in the province, he added.
"On the front lines, our folks are doing all they can to hold this system. And they're doing a great job of keeping us all safe," said Parker. "They need the support, they need the policies to ensure that they're taken care of."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Calgary police shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers dealt with a distraught individual. The incident lasted almost 20 hours.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.