(AHS)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

NDP also shares plan

UCP says they’ve “drastically” improved Emergency Medical Services wait times

May 19, 2023 | 9:19 AM

The United Conservative Party says that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) wait times have “drastically” under their government.

“In 2019, the UCP government inherited a broken, bloated, and bureaucratic health system that was failing Albertans. In response to this crisis, we streamlined resources to the front lines, increased health spending by over $2 billion, and added 700 physicians and nearly 6,000 staff in AHS, including 1,800 registered nurses and 300 paramedics. In 2022 alone, we added 254 physicians and 800 nursing staff,” said Highwood UCP candidate RJ Sigurdson in a statement on Wednesday.

He adds that recently, the UCP added $136 million in new EMS funding to hire more staff and put more ambulances on the road and implemented new EMS patient transfer guidelines at hospitals to allow paramedics and ambulances to get back on the road faster.

“Since implementing our changes, EMS response times have improved throughout the province, including a 38 per cent improvement in Calgary, a 25 per cent improvement in Edmonton, and an average 33 per cent improvement in smaller communities,” he said. “Our plan to improve health care is proof of our commitment to Albertans and front line workers.”

Sigurdson claimed that all of the 53 recommendations being implemented to improve EMS are a result of direct feedback from the EMS front lines.

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“In just a short six months, these changes are resulting in a dramatic improvement for response times, red alerts, and at the same time improving the workplace environment for our hard working EMS personnel.

“The NDP have no plan, just fear and smear. The UCP plan is working, and a re-elected UCP government will continue to do everything we can to provide the best health care to Albertans, where and when they need it,” he said.

The Alberta NDP said they will increase funding for emergency medical services to support better care for patients, prioritize paramedic well-being, and keep EMS staff closer to home.

“Albertans need to trust that when they call 911 in an emergency, dispatch will answer and an ambulance will be there within minutes,” said David Shepherd, Alberta NDP candidate for Edmonton-City Centre and Health Critic. “And they need to trust that when they get to the hospital, they’ll be seen fast. Under the UCP, Albertans don’t have that trust.”

The Alberta NDP claims they have a comprehensive plan to fix the healthcare crisis, which includes connecting every Albertan to a family doctor and helping 20,000 more seniors get home care so their health needs are addressed before becoming an emergency.

The plan aims to add 16 Community Paramedic Units across Alberta, including eight in Calgary and Edmonton and eight to serve other cities and rural communities.

“Seniors and people with chronic conditions can be better served with house calls,” said Cam Heenan, Alberta NDP candidate for Leduc-Beaumont. “The expansion of the Community Paramedic Program will support up to 18,000 visits, reducing pressure on our overcrowded ERs and providing the best possible care to Albertans.”

Over four years, the NDP claims the new Community Paramedic units will support an estimated 18,000 visits for Albertans and result in $20 million of avoided costs in reduced ER visits, EMS transport, and acute care stays. They say Community Paramedics provide care from suturing to lab work without needing a hospital visit.

The Alberta NDP plan also includes recruitment and retention measures such as dispatch improvements, up to $10,000 in signing-bonus, and more training spaces so there are more paramedics and opportunities for career advancement and upgrading qualifications.

“Paramedics are working whole shifts in mall parking lots, shifts that run late, and make it impossible to get to the daycare on time for pick up because they’re working in a different city, away from home,” said Heenan.

“This is causing burnout and worse – I’ve been to more funerals than retirement parties. Enough is enough. Alberta NDP’s comprehensive health plan will lead to better outcomes for paramedics and patients.”