** Alberta EMS heads still trying to establish standard ambulance response time for province
** Scottish Ambulance Service in UK hiking staff numbers by 20 per cent to compensate
for alcohol related call-outs
CANADA NEWS
** Despite ordering the establishment of a standard ambulance response time in Alberta six months ago,
the health minister’s dictate is still being researched. That is the word from Metro News
(Ryan Tumilty/December 18) which quoted Alberta Health Services (AHS) chief paramedic Darren Sandbeck
as saying the previous 8 minute/90 per cent of emergency calls goal is no longer practical due to
clincial care advancements and other factors. October statistics for Edmonton indicate life threatening calls
are being attended to within 12 minutes 90 per cent of the time. EMS union spokesman Elizabeth Ballermann
said paramedics are becoming frustrated by the lack of measureable standards. Ballerman made the comments
after an agreement was struck last week between the Health Sciences Association of Alberta members and
the AHS.
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** Christmastime EMS staff complements in the Scottish Ambulance Service will be increased by about
20 per cent on peak days. The Herald (December 18) said the augmentation is intended to address an
expected hike of about 200 calls per day. The projected jump is based on figures for 2013 which saw some
32,000 calls noted in the period between December 13th and January 1st. Most of the hike is related to
alcohol consumption which also fuels assaults and violence directed against medics.
Dec 21, 2014 | Comments Off on Monday, December 22, 2014
