Whereas the residents of the Province of British Columbia deserve timely and professional emergency health care services when health emergencies occur; And whereas many rural communities lack after hour and weekend access to medical clinics or hospitals in their communities; And whereas the BC Emergency Health Services prioritization model often takes ambulance crews from smaller rural communities to provide service to larger communities, leaving rural communities with limited or no ambulance resources within the community, significantly increasing ambulance response times: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia and BC Emergency Health Services to establish a staffing model that ensures adequate staffing levels are in place and remain within the rural community boundary before the BC Emergency Health Services prioritization model can be enacted.
Ministry of Health The Province is supporting BC Emergency Health Services BCEHS to make important changes in the way they serve patients, especially in rural and remote communities. The improvements are part of the implementation of the negotiated collective agreement 2019-2022 ratified by the members of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC CUPE 873 and the Minister of Healths announced plans in July 2021 to strengthen BCs ambulance system. The average annual spending increase for BC Emergency Health Services BCEHS over the last four years is 7.95 the budget has increased from 424.25 million to 559.141 million. In July 2021, the Minister of Health announced plans to further strengthen BCs ambulance system to ensure it is more responsive to British Columbians, a better place to work for paramedics and dispatch staff, and able to meet increasing demands and needs through focused and direct leadership. This work is on top of the improvements to emergency services that are being made through the Rural, Remote, First Nations and Indigenous COVID-19 Response Framework announced in April 2020, and improvements negotiated through the collective agreement between BCEHS and the BC Ambulance Paramedics 2019-2022. The Ministers July 2021 announcement on actions to strengthen the provincial ambulance service include funding for an additional: - 85 new full-time paramedics - 30 dispatchers - 22 additional ambulances - 24 additional 247 ambulance stations in rural communities and new regular part time positions for the smallest remote stations. Leadership changes, including a reconstituted board and a new chief ambulance officer position, will enable a direct and focussed approach to ensure better service for patients and families and better supports for front-line staff. In April 2020, the Province announced the Rural, Remote, First Nations and Indigenous COVID-19 Response Framework the Framework. It is intended to bring both immediate and long-term, sustainable solutions to those living in rural and remote communities. The Framework has resulted in improvements to service delivery including the expansion of the First Nation Health Authoritys Virtual Doctor of the Day, access to HealthLink BCs Emergency iDoctor-in-assistance HEiDi, and several real-time virtual support pathways for providers available through the Rural Coordination Centre for BC. Transportation improvements and increased access to emergency services include an additional 55 ground ambulances and 5 air ambulances, the deployment of rural advanced care paramedics to rural and remote communities, and patient transfer improvements in northern BC. These improvements mean people living in rural and remote communities can expect more consistent emergency medical responses, enhanced community paramedic primary care services, and a better place to work for front-line staff.