HSAA President, Mike Parker issued the following statement in response to the provincial government’s announcement it is taking measures to allegedly “strengthen” emergency medical services in Alberta.
“We don’t need another committee to tell us what we already know, the solution to the issues we are facing in emergency medical services and across the health-care system is to address the staffing shortage. Nothing in the announcement from government does that.
“There is no need for another committee. Frontline EMS professionals have already provided solutions to the troubles we are facing through our participation in the Alberta Emergency Medical Services Provincial Advisory Committee. The government should be acting on the solutions it was provided after a year of consultation.
“We have made it clear to the government that the solution is to improve wages and working conditions for emergency communications officers, paramedics and all health care professionals. That’s how we will retain the people we have and make the careers more attractive to new people.”
