Two ambulances are being added in Lethbridge and will begin service in the city in April. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Two new ambulances being added to Lethbridge’s EMS system

Feb 13, 2023 | 10:20 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is addressing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response times by adding two new ambulances in Lethbridge.

The new ambulances will begin operating in the city starting in April 2023.

Alberta Minister of Health Jason Copping said in a news release, “Adding these life-saving resources to the community of Lethbridge is another example of how we are collaborating with our partners and communities to make our EMS system more responsive to the needs of Albertans.”

Copping added, “This is part of our health action plan aimed at improving access to emergency services and bringing response times down. We are supporting our rural and urban communities.”

The new vehicles will operate 12 hours a day, seven days a week and will provide Advanced Life Support, which is then highest level of care possible on an ambulance.

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Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen stated, “This is great news for our community and for the safety of our residents. We are very pleased to be working collaboratively with AHS on this delivery of essential services for Lethbridge.”

The addition of the ambulances is made possible through net new funding of $304,954 from AHS. They will be staffed through the creation of 10.8 new full-time employee positions with an associated ongoing contract annual revenue of $1,790,340, funded by AHS.

Murray Crawford, Interim Senior Provincial Director of EMS at AHS said, “Adding these new ambulances will improve EMS response times, one of our four priorities at AHS, and help Albertans get the timely and effective care and support they need.”

The two new ambulances are in addition to 19 net-new ambulances that began operating in 2022 and were funded through $16 million included in the current provincial budget.

Chief of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services Greg Adair said, “The City of Lethbridge has been working collaboratively with AHS during the past few months to add more ambulances into Lethbridge.”

Adair added, “We are looking forward to these additional EMS resources in the coming months as these two additional ambulances will bring EMS services to the people of Lethbridge faster.”

According to AHS, EMS response times are improving despite a sustained 30 percent increase in call volume across the province.

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