Ambulance -- LNN

By Connor Gunn

Chief Paramedic says 911 EMS consolidation won’t hurt response times

Sep 30, 2020 | 1:54 PM

EDMONTON, AB– In a letter written by Alberta’s Chief Paramedic Darren Sandbeck, he says consolidation of the EMS dispatch service will not cost responders time.

The decision was made recently to centralize EMS and 911 dispatch to make the service more cost-efficient.

Read more: Province consolidating 911 EMS dispatch services, impacting Lethbridge

Sandbeck’s letter comes in response to the outrage from local Mayors of Lethbridge, Calgary, and other cities around Alberta.

The letter simply wants to give facts to some of the claims that are being made.

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“It allows EMS to send the nearest, most appropriate resource to a patient regardless of any geographic boundaries.”

Sandbeck says consolidating EMS dispatch is the right choice.

The letter reads that this new way will not affect the response times

“Ambulance services in each community will continue to be delivered by the same local paramedics who provide the service today.”

“These local professionals know the streets, locations, and neighbourhoods and will continue working with EMS dispatch to respond to any emergency in every local community.“

Read more: Mayor “disappointed” following EMS consolidation meeting with Shandro

Read more: Lethbridge Fire & EMS, Alberta NDP call for cancellation of 911 EMS dispatch consolidation

Sandbeck finished the letter off saying he is looking forward to “improve healthcare for all Albertans.”