Winnipeg Paramedics launched an advertising campaign today to underline the chronic issue of ambulance shortages in Winnipeg. The problem has gotten worse over the past few years, and Paramedics fear the shortage will put more people at risk if something isn’t done about it right now.
“Over the recent past, we have tried to bring this serious issue to the attention of the City of Winnipeg hoping for a solution that will keep Winnipeg families safer and healthier, but we have seen only band-aid solutions to addressing what we feel should be a major issue in the current municipal election,” said Chris Broughton, president of Paramedics of Winnipeg, MGEU Local 911. “Our hope is that when people understand the scope of the problem, they will begin to ask questions of all candidates seeking political office. Ultimately, we want to see a concrete, coherent plan for how to deal with this because right now lives are being put at risk. It’s that simple.”
There has not been a sufficient increase in ambulances, available paramedics or EMS call centre personnel over the past five years despite clear and mounting evidence that these are crucial to improving health outcomes for Winnipeggers. For example:
- In the past five years there has been a 17% increase in EMS call volumes;
- In the past three years, there has been a 44.3% increase in EMS call processing times;
- Despite these increases in call volumes and processing times, the City of Winnipeg has reduced the number of positions in the 911 EMS call centre (one position per 12 hour shift);
- In 2004, each ambulance responded to an average of 3,799 incidents. By 2008, that number has increased to 4,365 incidents per ambulance;
- Compared to 2004, inter-facility transfer volume has increased 74.7% to 11,548 (priority 1 and 2);
- The average hospital turn-around time for 2009 was 55 minutes (an increase of 37.5% since 2005);
- Industry standards stipulate 1 ambulance should be available for every 30,000 citizens. In Winnipeg in 2009, the ratio was 1 ambulance for every 37,505 citizens. To bring Winnipeg up to industry standards we would need at least five more ambulances on the road to comply.
“The ultimate risk to Winnipeg families could be devastating if these issues aren’t addressed,” Broughton said. “In cases of strokes or heart attacks, when immediate transport to hospital is necessary or when the administration of clot busting drugs is crucial, this shortage is literally about life and death. With an aging population, increased violent crime in our city that requires paramedics to be on scenes longer, and an on-going shortage in 911 call centre shortage, we’re only going to see our health outcomes get worse,” Broughton said.
In addition to the launch of the radio advertising, paramedics have launched a new website, www.ambulanceshortage.ca, to underline other challenges they face on the job each day, offer some solutions to help address the problems inherent in the ambulance system, and to provide tools for Winnipeg voters to help advocate for ambulance service delivery improvements during the upcoming municipal election.
Radio Ad: EMS, LIfe or Death (mp3)