Wednesday, June 4, 2008
** Ambulance New Brunswick medics afraid to speak out
** Violence to accompany Alberta EMS essential service legislation?
** Pennsylvania Medevac crash prompts hospital to temporarily suspend air ambulance operations
CANADA NEWS
** Ongoing growing pains at Ambulance New Brunswick apparently has some medics fearing job losses if they speak out. That is the word from the Telegraph Journal (Megan O’Toole/June 3) which quoted St. Andrews Mayor John Craig as saying practitioners are concerned with the way the new system is running. Craig said particularly annoying has been the practice of depriving smaller areas of EMS units while they provide coverage for understaffed urban regions. Service president and CEO Rock Marois called the criticism unfair, saying most large companies frown upon staff discussing problems with the media. Marois also said he hoped providers would come directly to Ambulance New Brunswick with issues, before seeking a wider forum.
** Labour leaders in Alberta are up in arms over a suggestion the government’s decision to declare EMS an essential service could spark violence. The CBC (June 3) quoted Alberta Federation of Labour president Gill McGowan as saying the slap in the face legislation removing the right to strike could, however, bring protests. Expected to be passed into law next week, the statute’s other provisions are also provoking ire. Along with impeding unions from topping up unionized contract bids for those competing against non-union firms, the bill also takes steps to prevent questionable tactics aimed at unionizing companies.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** The crash of a med-evac chopper Friday in Pennsylvania has prompted LeHigh Valley Hospital to stand down from airlifting patients. The Associated Press (May 31) said the operations stall will remain in force until all three crew members who were onboard the chopper are interviewed. A pilot escaped injury in the incident, while a flight paramedic and nurse sustained only minor wounds. Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. There is not word yet on what caused the helicopter to plunge near Pottsville.
