Mayors want province to reinstate local EMS dispatch service

By Lethbridge Herald on May 1, 2023.

An ambulance sits parked out in front of the bays at the downtown fire headquarters. Provincial mayors are advocating a return to local dispatch of Emergency Medical Services. Herald file photo

Al Beeber – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Mayor Blaine Hyggen is among provincial mayors advocating a return to local dispatch of Emergency Medical Services.

The province two years ago transitioned EMS dispatch from Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and mayors want local dispatch returned for “a stable and integrated service.”

A release sent to media Monday says “regional monitoring shows consistent data that substantiates original claims that centralized EMS dispatch has resulted in a degradation of service to Albertans. 

Trends identified to Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services in April of 2021 are still current today, and include:

• Addressing errors or delays (verifying the address of the emergency)

• Delay in Medical First Response Dispatch (Fire Department Assist)

• Critical safety alerts not issued for EMS crew safety

• Deviations in Medical Priority Dispatch System Protocol.”

The release says the four regions represent 43 per cent of Alberta in numbers of residents served.

It adds “each of the dismantled satellite EMS dispatch centers are cross-trained 9-1-1 call takers, and both fire and medical dispatchers and are fully capable of providing services to Albertans within the Alberta Health Services EMS dispatch system.

“First responders from Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo have consistently stated that EMS dispatch belongs within our local 911 systems to ensure that all calls receive an integrated response. In the past, Calgary received global accolades for the integrated nature of our response to emergency calls and we urge the province to reinstate this successful model.”

“The safety of our residents is our number one priority which is why we continue to advocate for improvements to the EMS dispatch system. We’ve proven that we can safely and effectively operate dispatch at a local level and be more efficient with our emergency services resources at the same time. It makes the most sense for the wellbeing of our residents and our first responders,” says Hyggen in the release.

Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek is quoted as saying “first responders from Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo have consistently stated that EMS dispatch belongs within our local 911 systems, to ensure that all calls receive an integrated response. In the past, Calgary received global accolades for the integrated nature of our response to emergency calls and we urge the Province to reinstate this successful model.”