** Nova Scotia EMS union cries foul over lengthy patient handover times at ERs
CANADA NEWS
** Nova Scotia’s paramedics union is crying foul over lengthy ER wait times for EMS crews, saying the emergency department crunches are costing patient lives. That is the word from the Chronicle Herald (Francis Campbell/March 15) which quoted union spokesman Terry Chapman as saying buying more ambulances for the service will not fix the problem because it is systemic. Chapman said some EMS crews wait up to 8 hours to hand over patients to ER staff. In one instance, the wait was 18 hours. EHS Director of Provincial Operations Jeff Fraser said the issue has plagued the service for at least 12 years. Fraser said hospitals do what they can to fix the clog. His sentiments were echoed by the provincial health authority central zone executive medical director Dr. Mark Taylor. Taylor said the problem, which is difficult to remedy, is always being analyzed for solutions.
