Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen is among those calling for a change to localize EMS dispatch. (Photo: LNN)

By Sarah Jones

Alberta mayors rallying for localized EMS dispatch

May 2, 2023 | 12:25 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Mayors of Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer, and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo are encouraging the provincial government and Alberta Health Services (AHS) to return to providing local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch.

January 2023 marked two years since these municipalities moved to a centralized, province-wide EMS dispatch system that, according to the mayors, has resulted in a degradation of services to Albertans.

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

With the four communities representing 43 per cent of the province in the number of residents served, the mayors hope by continuing to highlight critical issues that the province will actualize integrated services.

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen. said in a statement, “The safety of our residents is our number one priority, which is why we continue to advocate for improvements to the EMS dispatch system.”

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Hyggen added, “We’ve proven that we can safely and effectively operate dispatch at a local level and be more efficient with our emergency services resources at the same time. It makes the most sense for the wellbeing of our residents and our first responders.”

Read more: Alberta mayors, firefighters speak out against 911 EMS consolidation

Trends identified in regional monitoring include addressing errors or delays in verifying the address of an emergency, delays in medical first response dispatch, critical safety alerts not being issued and deviations in the medical priority dispatch system protocol.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek explained, “First responders from Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo have consistently stated that EMS dispatch belongs within our local 911 systems, to ensure that all calls receive an integrated response.”

“In the past, Calgary received global accolades for the integrated nature of our response to emergency calls and we urge the province to reinstate this successful model,” Gondek said.

Read more: Government shoots down new motion to localize EMS dispatch in Alberta

According to the mayors, each of the dismantled satellite EMS dispatch centers has cross-trained 9-1-1 call takers, both fire and medical dispatchers, and are fully capable of providing services to Albertans within the Alberta Health Services EMS dispatch system.

Mayor Ken Johnston of Red Deer said, “We remain in respectful disagreement with Alberta Health Services regarding the effectiveness of this consolidated system and are requesting a return of EMS Dispatch to our centers in order to support the provincial system with a stable and integrated service.”

He continued, “It is clear by many of the recommendations in the report that our conclusions support the fact that the provincial dispatch centers are either overwhelmed or lacking in capacity and searching for solutions to maintain service.”

Each of the mayors is inviting Albertans who may have experienced delays or degradation in service since the consolidation to share their stores with AHS, the Government of Alberta and continue to call on the premier to step in and return EMS dispatch to local jurisdictions.

Read more: Province announces plans to lower EMS response times