B.C. paramedics understaffed by up to 40 per cent daily due to burnout, injuries, vacancies
Each day, up to 40 per cent of scheduled paramedic positions in British Columbia are unfilled due to burnout, injuries and unfilled job vacancies, CTV News Vancouver has learned.
The remaining workers are struggling with an even heavier workload, contributing to long wait times for 911 and ambulance service and further contributing to the fatigue of a frontline service already exhausted by years of increasing call volumes, which have spiked during the pandemic.
“We’re seeing 20, 30, 40 per cent of our ambulances not staffed because of not enough paramedics, and we’re seeing that same number in dispatch – in fact it’s worse,” said Troy Clifford, president of Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of B.C.
“Paramedics in the same sense know they’re going to be going from call to call to call and know that when they arrive on a Friday night, they know that we’re already going to be down 30 per cent of our ambulances or whatever close to that number.”
Robert Parkinson, the union’s health and wellness director, describes it as a serious decision when a paramedic gives in to burnout, exhaustion and physical or mental injuries, because they know it’ll leave the rest of their colleagues shouldering a greater burden and lead to longer wait times for patients.
"You start combining lower staff levels and higher demand and that creates an issue and you see the last little while with the pandemic, it actually hit us to the core," said Parkinson. “We really need (more) supports to be brought into place and into the framework because hiring more people just means we're going to continue to injure more people."
A DIFFICULT JOB MADE EVEN HARDER DUE TO COVID-19
CTV News has spent several weeks speaking with numerous paramedics in different communities performing various functions. They all emphasized their dedication to their patients and desire to help others, but also expressed frustration with many of the decisions being made on how to run B.C.’s ambulance service; all felt their hard work was underappreciated by senior staff.
The workers – ranging from part-time and relatively new to decades-long veterans of emergency medical care – also want the public to understand there’s much more to their job than driving patients to hospital in an ambulance. They say they essentially now bring the emergency department and the medical care directly to patients.
“You could start with multiple overdoses where people are literally right on the cusp of death to delivering a baby 15 minutes later, to a horrific car accident right after that, to dealing with someone who's in their final stage of life in a palliative scenario, to a kid that wiped out on his skateboard and needs a Band-Aid," said advanced care paramedic Ian Tait.
He echoed the remarks of other paramedics, who described the increase in mental health and overdose calls in recent years wearing down an understaffed frontline, a situation made worse by the pandemic and the safety protocols and infection fears that came with attending calls for patients having trouble breathing.
“One of the sort of jokes we say is the last 18 months has been the longest 10 years of our career," said Tait, emphasizing that each call is different and requires quick thinking and special training.
“It drains you mentally, let alone physically, after the days and the weeks and the months and the years go by, and that is a significant challenge for us."
SUPPORTS AVAILABLE, BUT NOT ENOUGH
There are 4,400 ambulance paramedics and dispatchers in B.C. Those on the phone are trained specifically to help in medical situations where they can’t see the patient and have to talk a civilian through the best way to help, often while watching more calls pile up on the phone lines without knowing whether a life-or-death circumstance is on hold.
The clinical paramedics who staff ambulances face the risks of hands-on care, with a very intimate perspective on the traumatic injuries, health issues and human tragedies connected to them. A third of the staff are currently receiving support for mental health issues, but have to wait 90 days to process a claim with WorkSafeBC.
“(COVID-19) hit a workforce that's been damaged for a long time," said Parkinson. "Usually, it’s at the end of a pandemic when health-care workers start to see the effects psychologically. Well, this is a prolonged event like none we've seen, going on to year two and all these influences are taking a toll."
Some of the paramedics and call-takers who struggled to meet skyrocketing demand during the heat dome mass casualty event in late June are so traumatized by what they saw and experienced, they haven’t returned to work yet.
Clifford is advocating for a greater recognition and understanding of the fallout from a job that is as challenging as it is rewarding for those who answer the call.
“Doing this job changes you – some say you can’t do the job for a period of time and not get injured in some way,” he said. “Everyone deserves to go home safe and healthy, but that's not happening for all our paramedics and dispatchers.”
This is the third part of a CTV News Vancouver series examining British Columbia’s pre-hospital care system.
Part one: Not just a paramedic issue: What's behind 911 call delays in B.C.
Part two: B.C. family doctor shortage impacting 911 service and ambulance waits
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.