Ambulance staff shortages hurt patient care

The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan says staff shortages for ambulance service is beginning to affect patient care.

The numbers in a government report from October 2009 show that more than six ambulance calls a day in rural Saskatchewan fail to reach the patient within 30 minutes.

Health Sciences is highlighting this issue while it is bargaining for a new contract. Bill Fischer charges the problem is being ignored.

“They have sort of refused to any changes at the bargaining table,” he said.

He points to areas like Coronach, where, in his opinion, patient care is in jeopardy because of a lack of staff.

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“They really only have three people and trying to maintain coverage 24 hours a day really is onerous on those people,” Fischer said.

He believes one of the reasons for failing to retain these workers is the rate for being on-call, $4.12 — half of minimum wage.

When ambulance staff actually go out on a call, they are paid roughly $18 an hour.