Ambulance response for rural residents not meeting standard: HSAS

Watch above: A growing concern in rural Sask. about level of ambulance care

SASKATOON – The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan (HSAS) is calling on the provincial auditor to review how ambulance service is provided to rural and remote parts of Saskatchewan.

At a press conference Thursday, HSAS President Karen Wasylenko said in rural Saskatchewan there are 54 open EMS positions.

“Many rural and remote communities are regularly without ambulance service even though the public is seldom informed by their health region,” said Wasylenko.

The national standard is for all calls to be responded to within 30 minutes. In 2012/2013 approximately 75 per cent of rural residential calls for an ambulance met this standard, according to the province.

According to HSAS, the Kelsey Trail Health Region is a prime example. Over the past four months, in that region, Porcupine Plain has been without service for 10 full days and nine partial days. The region’s representative, Peggy Ratcliffe acknowledges the staffing shortage.

“Due to the nature of single ambulance services, there will be gaps in service whenever an ambulance leaves the community, however, this does not mean the community is without ambulance service. Ambulance services from neighbouring communities provide coverage in these situations,” Ratcliffe said.

Premier Brad Wall says a review is not the answer and credits a review undertaken by Don McMorris when he was the provincial health minister.

“Part of the recommendations actually led us to have STARS. We have rotary wing, fixed wing, and road ambulance. I think a formal review might get in the way of the government moving more precipitously on the issue,” said Wall.

According the the province, an additional $5 million was provided for ground ambulance service in Saskatchewan last year bringing the total to $115 million.