Province to take over from municipalities by April 1, 2009
Edmonton (2 June 2008) - The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), which represents 750 ambulance personnel, says it is pleased with the province's announcement that the responsibility for EMS services will be transferred from municipalities to the provincial health care system.
"This confirms what we've been saying for years – pre-hospital care belongs with health care," says HSAA president Elisabeth Ballermann. "However, the devil is in the details, and we will be seeking clarity on this re-organization of EMS responsibilities with health and wellness officials in the near future."
Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert announced last week that the transfer will be made in the coming months to the province's new provincial health authority. The change is expected to be complete by April 1, 2009.
Ballermann says HSAA will monitor the transfer closely, especially a statement by the minister regarding potential agreements with third party providers.
"Currently, there are 'mom and pop operations' responsible for running ambulance services in some of the province's more rural areas," she notes. "Unlike the quality services being offered by major municipalities and in the discovery projects, (they) are compromising the level of pre-hospital care that all Albertans deserve." NUPGE
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