Tag Archives: SOC

Health

New contract already improving conditions for province’s paramedics

By John Boivin, Valley Voice, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia’s emergency health workers are finding themselves in a pretty good place as they mark Paramedic Services Week in the province in 2023.

“It’s an exciting time to join BCEHS,” says Sara Thomas, the manager of clinical operations for Kootenay West. “With changes to the collective agreement, it’s creating quite a bit of excitement on the recruitment front – being able to offer living wages, more full-time and part-time jobs – is going to go a long way to recruiting and retaining paramedics on a local level.”

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Health

‘It’s a broken system that needs fixing,’ say emergency responders about B.C.’s rural paramedic shortages

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On 11 days this summer and early fall, Quadra Island had no local paramedics available for emergency medical calls, data from the emergency responders’ union shows.

The ferry-dependent community of 2,700 residents has acute staff shortages, as do many rural communities in B.C. On Quadra, three of four permanent part-time paramedic positions are vacant, Cindy Leong, a spokesperson for BC Emergency Health Services, wrote in an email.

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Health

Province improves BC Ambulance Service in Nakusp

Editor’s note: The shortage of paramedics serving in BC’s rural communities, from Quadra Island to the Interior, has been an ongoing problem. Cortes Island appears to be one of the exceptions, in that it “is not facing any significant staffing issues.” Here is another success story.

By John Boivin, Valley Voice, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nakusp is going to have a fully-staffed, 24/7 ambulance service in the near future.

BC Emergency Health Service says it’s improving ambulance service in the community by providing eight full-time paramedic positions.

Nakusp is one of 31 communities that will be receiving more permanent full-time paramedics.

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Health

Bella Coola ambulance service had coverage for only half of July

By Kaitlyn Bailey,  Prince Rupert Northern View, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Bella Coola ambulance was only in-service 52 per cent of July, Lesley Pritchard, communications for BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) stated in an email.

The in-service average over the past year was higher, at 75 per cent, but was still equivalent to one week per month without ambulance services.

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Disaster

Marc Doll speaks out on critical paramedic shortfalls; the doctor shortage & wildfire services in North Island 

There are not enough family doctors and the shortage of paramedics has reached crisis levels. Some people would like to see better fire services in North Island. In the third of a series about the issues he will be facing if elected Regional Director on October 15, Marc Doll spoke about emergency services on Quadra Island.

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