The state of emergency health care in Nova Scotia was front and centre at today’s meeting of the legislative health committee.
Representatives from government, EHS, the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the paramedics union were present to answer questions around long wait times and lack of ambulance coverage.
We recognize the need to get ambulances back on the road quickly to serve Nova Scotians. The Department of Health and Wellness has asked the NSHA and EHS to provide recommendations and quick actions to improve ambulance offload times. #nspoli
— Nova Scotia Liberal Party (@NSLiberal) March 13, 2019
The issue was highlighted by an exchange between NDP MLA Tammy Martin and Terry Chapman, Business Manager with the paramedics union:
Martin – “So what happens when I call an ambulance – God forbid, in New Waterford and the nearest ambulance is in Baddeck?
Chapman – “You wait.”
Martin – “So my loved one has just had a cardiac arrest?”
Chapman – “You wait with a person who will be probably non-living when they arrive.”
Michael Nickerson, President of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 727 says his members are run off their feet, missing meals and working up to an extra six hours per shift and it’s just not safe.
“I honestly think if we can fix the offload delays somewhat, then a lot of these other issues that our members are facing will fix themselves.”
The paramedics union has been using the hashtag #codecritical since February 2018 to highlight how frequently ambulance services are unavailable.
#codecritical in the West presently with only 2 units avail for Lunenburg and Queens counties. #nspoli #healthcarecrisis @NSLiberal @nspc @NSNDP @NS_Labour @StephenMcNeil @RandyDelorey @TimHoustonNS @karla_macf_pc @GaryBurrill @TammyMartinMLA @DannyNSFL
— IUOE Local 727 (@IUOEnsparamedic) March 12, 2019
PC MLA Karla MacFarlane proposed the committee ask that the Premier and Health Minister meet with paramedics to discuss the situation.
However, the Liberal majority of committee members all voted against, killing the motion.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
