The provincial government has reached the next phase in establishing an integrated ambulance service as outlined in the latest provincial budget.
A request for proposals has been issued for the design, management and operation of a single, integrated road and air ambulance service.
The move was a key recommendation of the Health Accord with the aim, according to government, to “further modernize” the province’s health care system.
The successful proponent will be responsible for managing the program, staff and budget on behalf of NL Health Services, with staff employed by the health authority, and additional employees expected to be needed once the contract is awarded.
Aviation medevac services will be contracted out, while all medical flight staff will remain within the public health system.
Submissions in response to the RFP are due in early 2024.
Minister Tom Osborne called a news conference for Thursday afternoon at Confederation Building to elaborate on the contract.
NAPE, however, says they’re alarmed with government’s plans to contract-out air ambulance services.
President Jerry Earle says government is giving with one hand while taking with the other in issuing an RFP for integrated services that will be provided by the private sector while employing public service employees.
He accuses the provincial government of talking out of both sides of its mouth.
“On one hand they’re recognizing, after a very long time, that bringing a portion of the private health care system back into the public realm to find efficiencies and better serve Newfoundlanders is a good thing,” he said.
“But on the flip side, after saying it’s not good enough if you rely on an air ambulance system, we are now going to move that to the private sector, where we have people providing this critical air service for decades…”