Saskatoon's emergency services are on the brink of flat-lining - that's the message from the Saskatoon Ambulance Employee Association.
We rely on ambulances 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. But what if you called an ambulance and there wasn't one available? That's the reality 40 minutes of everyday in Saskatoon according to the group who represents Saskatoon paramedics and dispatchers.
SAEA says a lack of funding and resources is creating major public safety risks. The province has assessed this situation before, and now those who represent frontline workers, want answers.
Scott Ingraham says the province has failed the needs of Saskatchewan's ground ambulance services. "We're getting busier and busier, and to me the situation is just getting worse."
Out of an almost $4.5 billion health budget, $5 million has been allocated to star air ambulance, but there is no extra money to expand ground service.
"If there's no ambulance to take the person from the helicopter to the hospital, it kind of defeats the purpose of having a helicopter," said Ingraham.
MD Ambulance responds to an average of 71 calls per day. Right now there are eight ambulances on the road during the day - and four overnight – something Dave Dutchak, the company's CEO and president says is not enough.
"We cannot build a foundation on something that is not strong," said Dutchak.
In October of 2009 – the Ministry of Health commissioned an EMS review. Ingraham says the government is ignoring the facts of the report in failing to fund any of its 19 recommendations.
"It would take probably an additional 37 full time positions to what we have right now to meet the call volume to what we're having," said Ingraham.
The province says they can't say much about the situation because ambulance employees are in negotiations with the Saskatoon Health Region. Health Minister McMorris said in an email to CTV: "The government values and appreciates the work of all people working in the health care system including ambulance providers. We urge both sides to come to an agreement as soon as possible."
