“We can’t wait.”
NAPE President Jerry Earle met with paramedics last week in a series of emergency meetings surrounding the number of red alerts in the metro region and says the situation is dire.
Earle says paramedics shared stories about situations they’ve encountered with people waiting on an ambulance that have them frustrated and demoralized.
The Health Accord process is underway, trying to find efficiencies and better ways to deliver health care in the province, but Earle says solutions need to be found immediately to address the availability of ambulances in the metro area.
(File photo)
He’s not in a position to describe the stories shared but says as a trained paramedic he found them very distressing.
While it’s not happening every day, ambulances are repeatedly being called in from areas outside metro several times a week, sometimes from as far away as Conception Bay North.
That then leaves CBN and CBS short on ambulances.
🚨 St. John's & CBS were in Red Alert status this a.m. (no ambulance immediately available). Ambulances coming from other areas to cover which leaves those areas short. Delayed responses. Paramedics are short staffed & past breaking point. Time for action @Johnrockdoc
— Jerry Earle (@jerry4nape) September 3, 2021
