Lack of resources drive up ambulance response times: WFPS chief

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This article was published 09/06/2022 (931 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service ambulances are taking several minutes longer to respond to life-threatening emergencies than its target response time — a problem blamed on staff and ambulance shortages.

WFPS Chief Christian Schmidt said the service manages to send firefighter paramedics to provide emergency care within eight minutes, 47 seconds, thanks to its integrated model.

However, the time it takes for an ambulance capable of transporting patients to arrive on the scene has grown much longer, Schmidt told city council’s protection and community services committee Friday.

“We’ve seen those incremental increases over the last number of years. And now we’re not meeting the (official target) of eight minutes 59 seconds to have a transport unit at a patient’s side. Those times are pushing 15 minutes,” the fire chief said.

A recent finance report noted WFPS is currently on track to exceed its budget by $7.5 million this year, due primarily to a surge in overtime costs.

Schmidt said it is not the only challenge.

“It’s not only staff, we have issues with actual physical units. When we have situations where we go in for the weekend, where we have one or zero physical ambulances available as spares to go into service — that’s very concerning.”

WFPS spokesperson Michelle Lancaster said the service needs another 10 ambulances and an additional 11 full-time staff for each one to meet current demand and service targets.

In 2020, then-WFPS chief John Lane told media he was “begging” Shared Health to provide more ambulances, as calls for help piled up in the queue.

The chairwoman of council’s protection committee said the lengthy response times pose a major concern.

“We’re creeping up (in response times) because we’re missing equipment, we’re missing staffing. It’s not that we haven’t been doing all that we can to make sure that we’re an efficient service,” Coun. Sherri Rollins said during a media event Friday afternoon. “That unified model (of WFPS) has been saving us to get to the Winnipeggers that need the lights and sirens.”

During the committee meeting, WFPS noted an enhanced “low-acuity triage system” that diverts less urgent 911 calls to other care providers is helping ease some pressure. However, the chief said such programs won’t be enough to solve the surge in ambulance response times.

“At the end of the day, when there’s emergencies, life-threatening emergencies… we must have transport-capable resources at the ready,” said Schmidt.

Mayor Brian Bowman told media the wait times are one reason why he’s repeatedly pushed the province to complete a new ambulance contract for Winnipeg, which provides the health-care service on the Manitoba government’s behalf. The previous agreement expired in 2017.

“Let’s get a contract and let’s make sure it’s crystal clear the level of service that (they) want and they should be accountable for that level of service. If the service is good or bad, they ultimately are contracting for it,” said Bowman.

A spokesperson for Shared Health said the provincial agency is working to “finalize” a new ambulance contract with the city and won’t comment on its details until a signed contract is in place.

“We will note that increasing volumes and longer response times are a concern we share with the WFPS, and a number of initiatives have been launched to improve services,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The statement did not answer whether the province will provide more ambulances for Winnipeg.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga