Whereas communities across British Columbia are facing a significant increase in calls to respond to emergency medical incidents; And whereas local governments provide for their fire departments to support prehospital patient care in their community by providing emergency medical services that assist the Provincial Governments BC Ambulance Service; And whereas the costs associated with supporting prehospital care by local government fire departments has increased significantly in relation to response hours and increased use of first aid and other medical supplies and that such costs are funded solely through local government property taxation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to develop a funding model to compensate local governments who provide emergency medical services through their fire and rescue services fulfilling the responsibility of the provincial government with consideration given to community population and the fire departments authorized level of emergency medical response.
Ministry of Health The support provided by First Responders FRs during medical emergencies is an essential part of the delivery of pre-hospital emergency health services to the people of British Columbia. BC Emergency Health Services BCEHS and the Province value the role that FRs play in pre-hospital emergency care. BCEHS notifies first responder agencies who have agreements with BCEHS of time critical calls. Establishing an agreement with BCEHS is voluntary and each municipality, including the City of Prince George, can determine the extent of their participation and the calls they respond to. This approach provides municipalities with the ability to directly manage all costs associated with their participation in pre-hospital care. Some municipalities have chosen to have FRs continue to attend both urgent and routine non-emergency calls, while others have elected to have first responders attend only urgent medical calls where a patients condition will benefit from initial care. Through continued and increased investment, the BC government is supporting BCEHS to take targeted action to improve emergency health services throughout the province. Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, BCEHS announced 800 new hires across BCEHS paramedics, dispatch, and support services into existing vacancies and new positions the largest expansion of staffing in BCEHS history. BCEHS has also increased ground and air ambulances coverage throughout the province, implemented a more efficient 9-1-1 system, increased training for paramedics and provided funding to support the mental health and wellness of BCEHS employees. In addition, to improve ambulance services in 60 rural and remote communities, a new staffing model has launched to provide consistent and reliable community-based out of hospital care which adds 271 new full time paramedic positions to the province. As part of this new approach, 55.2 stand alone, full-time community paramedic positions will be dedicated to providing community-based care and community outreach through the new model. BCEHS is committed to providing timely, high quality and safe pre-hospital care for patients throughout British Columbia, while using public resources in an effective and efficient manner. As part of this commitment, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with BCEHS, fire departments, municipalities and other stakeholders, are working together to implement a coordinated approach to pre-hospital care that will ensure people throughout the province have access to the out-of-hospital care they need. BCEHS understands that an essential part of the delivery of emergency health services is working together to ensure a responsive system. BCEHS remains committed to working with stakeholders and local government to find ways to improve services.