The president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA), the union of healthcare professionals, says Alberta Health Services (AHS) data confirms the province does not have enough paramedics nor ambulances.

“Our EMS system is broken,” said Mike Parker, HSAA president. ‘It can’t cope with the regular demands, let alone a large scale disaster such as the terror attacks we saw in Edmonton or an imminent plane coming down in the City of Calgary. These systems couldn’t even cope with a snowfall last week that left us on a code red for over 25 minutes.”

Parker says there has been anecdotal evidence for years indicating the stresses placed on EMS but information collected from AHS through a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) request confirmed their belief.

“Our members have been telling us, and anyone else who will listen, that the problem has been going on for some time and we have seen no improvements. We don’t have enough ambulances and we don’t have enough paramedics.”

“We now have the statistics to back up our information.”

According to Parker, Alberta Health Services data indicated the following increases in Alberta between the fiscal years of 2012 and 2017:

  • 19.4% increase in call volume
  • 12.7% increase in Alberta’s population (more than 505,000 people added)
  • Increase of 9 ambulances provincewide (from 319 to 328)
  • 3.4% increase in paramedics (16 new positions)
  • 10.5% increase in budget for front line services (from $316M to $349M, offset by 7.7 per cent inflation rate)

“We need more front line services now,” said Parker. “The result is patients suffering, our members are suffering and the struggle to provide the level of care that Albertans need and deserve. We are failing.”

Parkers says paramedics face an increased workload with little to no time between calls and two to three hours of daily overtime has become commonplace for staff members who already work 12 hours shifts.

The frequency of Code Reds in Calgary, times when there are no available ambulances within the city, takes its toll on communities throughout Alberta. “(When)Calgary goes into a Code Red situation, no available ambulances, drawing in an Okotoks (crew), which draws in a Lethbridge (crew), which draws in a Coaldale (crew)and the system collapses into Calgary trying to maintain service levels and they can’t do it. Those communities are left unprotected.”

Parker say 50 additional ambulances would be required, provincewide, to bring the EMS system to the minimal level capable of addressing current call volumes.

“This has been 10 years of failure by Alberta Health Services to maintain a service level. Failure by consecutive governments to maintain funding for these EMS and front line health care across this province.”

Darren Sandbeck, Senior Provincial Director and Chief Paramedic with AHS, confirms AHS officials are aware of the statistics and continue to monitor population growth and call volume.

“We know that our paramedics are challenged out there,” said Sandbeck. “They’re challenged with call volumes, they’re challenged with hospital wait times. We’re aware of all these things and we’re working hard to find solutions.”

Sandbeck says there have been discussions regarding the allocation of new resources but adding paramedics and ambulances requires availability within the budget. When the opportunity presents itself, we will add those resources.”

In the meantime, Sandbeck asks that Albertans use EMS appropriately.

“There was a time when we used to use a motto that said ‘Don’t guess, call EMS’ which resulted in lots of increases in call volume,” said Sandbeck. “Now, it’s really about ‘is this an appropriate use of an ambulance?’. I think that that’s a fundamental question that folks should ask.”

“AHS encourages use of HealthLink for those questions that need to be answered of a medical nature and folks aren’t sure what to do. HealthLink has connection to us and are able to, if they determine that an ambulance is required, they’re able to pass that call over to us.”