WINNIPEG — The number of Winnipeggers who have lost faith in their emergency medical services has increased, according to a city survey.
The information was contained in the recent city budget.
A City of Winnipeg survey asks people how satisfied they are with the emergency medical response they received.
In 2010, 99.3 per cent were pleased. In 2011 and 2012, it held steady at 91.5 per cent. This year it plummeted to 64.6 per cent.
“We’re taking it very seriously,” said Bill Clark of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. “When we have a significant drop like that, we want to know why.”
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That is tough for the city since the sample size is small. Of 609 people asked the question, 82 experienced an ambulance ride to the hospital.
“We could not turn to the sample group and find out why, so we are in the process of analyzing our services,” said Clark. “We do that every day.”
City officials said media coverage of emergency room concerns could have played a part in the drop.
Off-load times and a recent jump in ambulance costs may also be to blame.
The city said around 60,000 patients are transported each year.
The paramedics’ union said the vague survey has left more questions than answers.
“We really don’t understand if this is a response to the larger health-care system, paramedics themselves or other factors in play,” said Chris Broughton, the union’s president.
Broughton would like the city to do a review of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to find out why citizens are concerned.
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