The opposition Liberals say the provincial government’s announcement that it’s training 200 paramedic assistants over the next two years isn’t going to relieve the strain on Nova Scotia’s paramedics.
On Friday, with emergency departments at or over-capacity and the average ambulance wait time to off-load patients hovering around one hour and 33 minutes, Nova Scotia’s health minister announced 200 paramedic assistants will be trained over the next two years.
In a news release, the province said those stepping into the new emergency medical responder role will “receive three months of training, be licensed and regulated by the College of Paramedics of Nova Scotia and must pass a national exam administered by the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators.” Their training will be carried out in Nova Scotia by Medavie HealthEd and the first group will start working this summer.
Emergency medical responders will be trained to drive ambulances as well as assess and stabilize patients. Paramedics currently work in pairs, and the decision to replace one paramedic with an emergency medical responder will free up the other paramedic. This effectively doubles the number of teams able to respond to urgent 911 calls.
There are approximately 200 vacant positions for fully trained paramedics, and many shifts are understaffed.
“The demands on our system and paramedics continue to grow and with emergency medical responders we are taking another step toward transforming emergency health services for Nova Scotians,” Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson said in Friday’s release.
Liberals say new role won’t relieve strain on paramedics
On Monday, Liberal leader Zach Churchill and Liberal health critic Kelly Regan issued a statement calling out that decision.
“Replacing a highly trained paramedic with an ambulance driver will have serious ramifications for Nova Scotians seeking emergency care in this province,” Churchill said.
“This announcement is another example of the Houston Conservatives chasing headlines without thinking about the impact their decision will have on Nova Scotians. We’re urging the Premier to reverse this decision.”
The Liberals said the decision will not relieve the strain paramedics are working under, but will instead add to it.
“Paramedics are already leaving the profession in record numbers under the Houston Conservatives,” Health and Wellness critic Kelly Regan said.
“Paramedics should not be forced to face unpredictable emergency situations on their own. This change will ratchet up the pressure on paramedics, ultimately leading to more of these crucial first responders leaving the system.”
Union response
But that’s not how the business manager for the union representing paramedics views the announcement. The Examiner contacted Kevin MacMullin with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), Local 747. Here’s part of MacMullin’s written response:
Presently, the government is introducing a new EMR program in Nova Scotia to supplement our existing programs. While we have received information regarding this new program, it has been vague without explicit details, which we understand will be forthcoming in the next few weeks…the union appreciates the effort of the government to assist in maintaining necessary responses to increasing demand, and properly using EMRs will be an asset to maintaining a high-quality paramedic response in Nova Scotia.
In his emailed statement, the business manager for the paramedic’s union noted that:
Our ground ambulance system has and still is experiencing significant paramedic staffing challenges. We have recently ratified a three-year Collective Agreement that has brought improvements in pay and benefits for our beleaguered paramedics. The starting wage for a graduating Primary Care Paramedic is $67,857.00, and a new Advanced Care Paramedic would start at $81,063.00.
This does not include shift premiums that are currently an additional $3.00 per hour and $2,500.00 stand-alone mental health benefits paid for by the employer. It is our intention to grow our workforce with qualified paramedics to supplement and continue to provide the public with the professional and highly trained paramedics they deserve.
This year will also see the addition of paramedic training courses in Pictou County and Yarmouth. Tuition fees up to $11,500 will be paid for by the province.
Everytime I see the Liberals disagreeing with anything that is attempted to try to fix a problem in the overwhelming mess of healthcare makes me think they are still trying to axe the public system. McNeil did his best to dismantle it when in power and now he is lobbying for privatization. Remember when the Liberals were in power under Savage and what he did by closing many hospitals in western NS.
Are adding assistants to paramedics going to save us, it will help some. There are always unmanned trucks sitting at bases each shift because currently there is not enough staff. And remember, EHS is owned by a private company….
Let’s see. The union representing the worker paramedics likes the idea. The Liberals, who created the mess in the first place, don’t like the idea. Who’s attempting to grab headlines?
More bodies can only help the paramedics issues from getting any worse but if you cannot get them seen; it does not matter how quick you get them there, just a longer wait.
Why so sensitive you ask; was Churchill not the Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister Responsible for Office of Mental Health and Addictions at one time …
I think I would side with the paramedics on this on, the PC’s, Liberals, and NDP have proven they know nothing about NS Health.
I don’t very often agree with the PCs but I do agree with them and the union with regard to the addition of paramedic assistants. These assistants will help the paramedics. No, it won’t solve all the problems but the addition of continuing care assistants helped nurses (both RNs and LPNs), the addition of Pharmacy assistants (technicians) helped pharmacists and the addition of phlebotomists helped laboratory technologists. Likely the addition of doctors assistants will help physicians. Addition of any a new health care worker that can be trained more quickly who will work with the professionals can only be a good thing in my opinion.
Amazingly, I have to agree with the Liberals on this one (doesn’t happen very often). This is not about the government providing better care for Nova Scotians, it is about saving money (EMRs will be paid less) and setting the stage for further privatization. Previous governments have done this with respect to lowering qualifications and pay for looking after patients rather than paying RNs or BNs. And, as Amandajay says, it won’t free up space in the ER departments.
Oh, and this likely will not help the root issue of why so many ambulances are unavailable, due to the paramedic (and ambulance) having to wait in a backlog at the emergency room waiting with Patients that are in queue to be seen…
Honestly, I am at a loss as to why the liberal party is making stink over this. The UNION is for it, and that represents the Paramedics… what am I missing?