A union representative is raising the alarm over the lack of available ambulances in the Clarenville-Bonavista area.

Teamsters 855 Business Manager Hubert Dawe, on VOCM Openline, spoke of a recent situation whereby only six ambulances were available to service the entire Bonavista Peninsula. That’s half of the usual allotment of twelve.

Dawe attributes this to a lack of paramedics, recent hospital closures in the area, and primary ambulances being used for routine transportation runs.

He says despite best efforts, without resources, they just can’t fulfill the requirements—and that’s not even the most alarming aspect.

He says he’s heard from the operator of Random Sound Paramedicine who says they will not have a class this September due to a lack of demand and is hearing similar things about Keyin College in Central Newfoundland. That leaves only College of the North Atlantic running a program in the area, with a max output of only 24 students.