Pemberton and Lillooet are among communities where province will hire new paramedics as part of an enhanced ambulance service, the province announced today.
In October, 24 ambulance stations will be converted from on-call paramedic staffing to 24/7 stations with eight full-time paramedics.
There will be an additional 177 positions associated with these conversions. The Province says this is the largest hiring push in B.C.’s history in rural and remote locations.
Along with Pemberton and Lillooet, ambulance services will be enhanced in communities such as Ashcroft, Barriere, Keremeos, Princeton, Sicamous, Clearwater, Revelstoke, among other smaller communities.
As well, 26 smaller stations moving to a scheduled on-call staffing model are getting more permanent, regular paramedic jobs, starting on Nov. 1.
Communities that will see this enhanced service are Alert Bay, Atlin, Bear Lake, Blue River, Cortes Island, Dease Lake, Edgewood, Elkford, Field, Gold Bridge, Granisle, Greenwood, Hudson’s Hope, New Denver, Port Alice, Port Clements, Riondel, Sayward, Seton Portage, Sointula, Southside, Stewart, Tahsis, Texada Island, Wells and Zeballos.
“When we call 911 for help, British Columbians need to feel confident that help is on the way and that it will arrive quickly,” said Adrian Dix.
“The significant progress made by BC Emergency Health Services over the summer will ensure a more effective ambulance service for patients and families who depend on it. Better support for paramedics and dispatchers will help them do the vital work we count on every day.”
Another method of “make work” programs. those area’s are somewhat isolated and no question that the “upgraded pay scale” may provide some good results … but society can only afford a medium …. not a perfect system. Remember the days when the volunteer service club members would load up the victims into a donated station wagon and off to the medical centre …. some made it some did not, and now the service is being extended to pick up the idiots that go far off the beaten track and expect a Doctor on the scene and everyone to be on notice to provide the rescue ….. oh well, spend it all, not my problem.