WINNIPEG – Ambulances are waiting longer than ever to offload patients at Winnipeg hospitals, according to figures released Tuesday by Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative Opposition.
The emergency vehicles and their paramedic crews waited on average 81 minutes with their patients at city emergency departments in the first three months of this year. That compares to an average of 75 minutes in all of 2013.
Municipal officials and the union that represents city paramedics have frequently complained that the long delays dropping off patients at crowded ERs often result in several ambulances being stuck waiting at hospitals while other calls go unattended.
“The NDP promised to address this problem and make improvements, but things have only gotten worse,” PC Leader Brian Pallister is quoted saying in a news release. “This new data presents more evidence the NDP has no ability to manage the health system and are putting Manitobans at risk.”
Health Minister Erin Selby has said the government has made several moves to cut emergency room wait times, such as setting up quick-care clinics for less urgent cases.
— With files from Canadian Press
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