Funding received for new “temporary” paramedic positions in Alberta

A Workforce Planning Task Force has been established to ensure the filling of positions is done as quickly as possible with many postings already made public.

Darren Sandbeck, Chief Paramedic and Senior Provincial Director for AHS EMS, says they want to be able to manage the increased levels of 911 calls recently while not overburdening current members.

“This will allow EMS to hire new casual staff and to return to using our casual positions for their intended purpose, such as providing short term and temporary relief for paramedics who are off on sick time or taking vacation time.”

Mike Parker, President and Advanced Care Paramedic with the Union of Healthcare Professionals, believes this will not actually make much of a difference.

“While this funding is important to bolster and maintain 100 already existing positions, it doesn’t actually add a single paramedic to our overburdened health system. It doesn’t solve the issue of not having enough members hired. Every shift is being run short. Without hiring more new paramedics, the current government continues to put the system, our members, and every Albertan needing urgent medical care, at risk.”

Pre-pandemic, there were about 1,095 calls to 911 every day. Currently, that has gone up to an average of 1,521 per day.

by David Opinko

Funding received for new “temporary” paramedic positions in Alberta

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