Nearly half of B.C.'s Lower Mainland ambulances were out of service Thursday night, union says
Nearly half of all ambulance vehicles in B.C.'s Lower Mainland were out of service Thursday night due to staff shortages, according to the paramedics' union.
Troy Clifford, president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., said there were 62 ambulances out of service, which equates to about 40 per cent of the fleet. It was also a very busy night.
“At the peak time last night, I think we saw about 92 or 96 calls holding, waiting to be dispatched to ambulances,” Clifford said, adding that there were similar numbers on Saturday night but “that was an unusually extreme night for a Thursday.”
Thankfully, Clifford said, there were no serious issues as a result of the staffing levels, but he added it creates pressure on those who are on shift.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said the back-to-back extreme winter storms were creating challenge for everyone, including paramedics.
“The province and B.C. Emergency Health Services are working in cooperation through the BCEHS Emergency Co-ordination Centre to help relocate ambulance crews to respond to shortages caused by weather,” the statement said.
Call numbers typically increase around the holidays, with more calls related to incidents of stroke, cardiac arrest and people who are isolated.
“It's a sad time of the year for some people, and with that comes those increased calls of mental health and addiction,” Clifford said.
This year, there’s also the added challenge of the weather conditions. Clifford said there have been increases in calls related to slips and falls on roads and sidewalks, and road closures can make traveling difficult.
“Whenever you have the bridges and the major arteries blocked, that seriously impacts us if we’re trying to get to a trauma facility,” he said.
Staffing issues for paramedics have been ongoing for months. In October, the union entered into negotiations for a new collective agreement. A temporary deal to boost staffing was soon reached, but talks then broke down. A mediator was brought in last week.
Clifford said both sides will be working over the holidays – sending proposals back and forth – and they will be back at the bargaining table in the first week of January.
“I am definitely happy with the progress we’ve seen and we still have a long way to go, but if we continue down this road, we’ll get a deal and that’ll be good for the citizens of B.C. and paramedics and dispatchers,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.