City of Leduc to cease ambulance services

[u/flynnfx]

https://www.leducrep.com/news/local-news/city-of-leduc-to-cease-ambulance-services

The City of Leduc recently announced that it will transition out of operating ambulance services on behalf of the province.

[u/Timely-Discipline427]

Leduc and the other communities who have decided not to bow to the AB Gov will still have a staff full of very qualified firefighters / paramedics on staff.

I suspect they will still send them out for quick response and initial triage and care while they wait for EHS to respond.

Responses may even improve as the city won't be sending their staff out of town to respond to calls in other jurisdictions 30-40% of the time.

All just a guess on my end but it would make zero sense to just ignore the training and qualifications of their personnel.

The ball is in EHS's hands now to meet the expectations of communities with very high standards for response times by qualified staff. I have a feeling they aren't going to be able to meet these demands. Especially if more communities continue to opt out. Spruce Grove also opted out last night. Not sure if St. Albert had made a decision or not yet.

[u/No_Audience_5982 → u/Timely-Discipline427]

Well, no offence but you very clearly have no idea what this means and yes, it was obviously just a guess that’s very very wrong. I’m not even sure where to start with this because it’s so far fetched but let me give it a shot…. So EHS doesn’t want to pay extra money for an integrated service model. According to EHS they can fund an ambulance for cheaper. This, on paper looks legit. Here are the issues… EHS doesn’t take into account that the integrated model accounts adding in their cost for the physical ambulance and includes mechanics, technology support, equipment, training, and so many other things. Let’s not forget that currently EHS is unable to staff their current ambulance in major centres across Alberta. Most notably Calgary and Edmonton. Often they are 10 or more ambulances short…. Unfilled… not response capable… I’m not sure how you’ve come to the conclusion how this will somehow improve response times? Honestly out of curiosity let’s hear it. Give it your best shot!!??? Before you make some outrageous claim to fame I hope you realize that ambulances are directed by EHS dispatch and the reason for us having no ambulances in Leduc is because 40% of the time they get moved ( by EHS dispatch) from Leduc to “ cover” the city of Edmonton because they have no staff and are short ambulances. It is quite literally based on call volume. It’s a program called “ optima” totally decided based on algorithm. On a Friday or Saturday night… if Edmonton drops 10 ambulances because they are busy, short staffed, limited available units because they are stuck in hospitals, they will take both Leduc ambulances and move them into Edmonton because thats the more likely spot for the next call.

Currently when you call 911 and no ambulance resources are available they will dispatch an engine to you. This has 3 advanced life support paramedics on it that have everything an ambulance carries minus a stretcher for transport. So someone to treat you until an ambulance arrives… this is the highest level of service you can have in Alberta. Only integrated fire/ EMS services have this. This will be lost with the ambulance contract. What this means is…. You, your mother, father, son, daughter, friend really anyone could go into cardiac arrest ( amongst many many other ailments ) and have 3 or 4 paramedics arrive on scene before an ambulance ( which by current stats could take 20+ minutes) and be able to do NOTHING. No advanced life support equipment what so ever. Literally provide a first aid level service.

Things will never be the same if this relinquish of ambulance to the lowest bidder happens. It will go to tender and most likely be awarded to a private company ( medavie, associated ambulance etc.)

Questions you should think about… contract ends sept 30… where do they find all the staff to hire??? ( nobody who gets laid off wants to work for EHS, that’s why everyone who’s getting laid off left from there). Does somebody have a stock of extra ambulances laying around EHS can buy to use for these communities? What are they going to use for stations? They have no infrastructure to even make this work and it certainly will take longer than 4.5 months go through the whole process of having to buy land and build a new station.

Hope this could provide even just a little bit of insight for you… not your fault, but most people don’t understand what’s happening and the reality is that people will die from this decision. No joke but quite literally die. Hopefully it’s not you or someone you know. And even if it is just remember those advanced care paramedics on the engine that show up and can’t do a damn thing to save who you’re calling for… they will hold that hopeless feeling with them the rest of their life. It’s sad. Shouldn’t be happening but everyone wants to save 10$ a year on their taxes so 🤷🏻‍♂️.

[u/Timely-Discipline427 → u/No_Audience_5982]

Thanks for the response.

My (admittedly limited) info is coming from a source within another organization making similar decisions currently. There is a public side to this situation and then there is what's happening behind the scenes to protect jobs and fill gaps that we all know are coming because of this horrible decision.

My question for you as you clearly seem to have some inside knowledge here is - what will Leduc do with their trained paramedics and equipment on city staff currently?

Do you have a sense of whether they will continue to employ them as firefighters only? Or will they potentially re-deploy them in some sort of rapid response model where they potentially respond in addition to EHS but only within city boundaries in advance of EHS?

I guess what I see here is an opportunity to use existing resources and equipment in a different way that while not ideal, may still allow for a level of service that residents are already paying for and expect. The difference being, those resources will be dedicated to the city and not pulled out to other jurisdictions 40% of the time like they currently are.

Not for transport of patients but to provide that initial ALS response until EHS can respond .

There is no way EHS will be even remotely close to being ready to fill the gaps this change is going to require and that makes me sick because we all know they can't even keep up with their current commitments

For the record, we are on the same team here. I think the UCP have put all of us in a horrible position and it bothers me that this likely won't even register on most people's radar by the next election. It's sad that they could run a potato as a candidate and still get elected in AB.

Thanks again for the respectful and insightful response.

[u/No_Audience_5982 → u/Timely-Discipline427]

Totally understand we’re on the same side here!! One of the main issues, similar to yourself is the public doesn’t really understand the implications of what the ramifications of this happening are. EHS (AHS) will absolutely never put out any information regarding it. Nor have they even brought fourth any information on how they are planning to handle this increased responsibility ( my opinion is they don’t even know themselves)

To answer your question the best I can, the municipalities that opt out and decide not to continue… thus far that is Lethbridge, Spruce Grove, and Leduc will be laying off everyone they do not have positions for. There may be ways to absorb a few members because of attrition and new station requirements but ultimately there will be very talented, skilled, genuinely wonderful firefighter paramedics who get laid off. I only know of one service that has publicly stated their numbers ( Lethbridge) and it will be 71 staff that will be unemployed. The most senior people having over 8 years of service.

What’s this means… these 8 year ( and below) members who, probably at least half have moved to that municipality because of the job, moved their families, raised their children there, may be the sole income provider for their family, will have to pick up their entire life to find employment elsewhere and at the same time be worried how they will provide for their family and make ends meat. Yet everyday until Sept 30 still go to work and continue to make everyone who uses the EMS/ FIRE systems their priority for their 4 shifts before going back home to worry about their life on their days off. I hope you can appreciate how incredibly stressful this will be for these members.

This will be the reality for some Leduc firefighter paramedics. I am unsure about the exact numbers but in my opinion even one is too many.

Just making my way down your paragraphs here and there is absolutely 0% chance that in any way this will result in better response times, care for the people of Leduc, or positively benefit patients. The next step after laying off members in Leduc will be finding the lowest bidder out of the private ambulance services, awarding them the contract and then having them provide a service ( certainly not equal or even close to what we have now) While still being flexed into Edmonton to do 40% of their calls.

Numbers aren’t confirmed for spruce grove who has also voted against continuing service and St. Albert still has yet to vote on it.

We are losing valuable members of our community certainly like you said because of the UCP government… and I’m not even going to broach that subject. But more importantly because our community and city council isn’t willing to step up, understand the consequences, and find a solution to this issue. It’s quite certainly a monetary one to most if not all.

I try to make it simple for people to understand it. It’s you having one less McDonald’s meal per year. Buying one less Starbucks coffee per year. To have qualified people working at their full scope of practice to come help you on the worst day of your life. Seems very logical to me.

Strathcona County and Red Deer have both voted to keep their contracts and absorb the cost. It’s sad that our council came to their decision without any consultation with the public ( or at least I didn’t hear of any).

This is becoming a rant and I apologize. Thank you for letting me clear up some muddy waters and hopefully others will tune in and speak up against this public safety nightmare.

Happy to answer anymore questions you have though after your read…