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By CHAT News Staff

UPDATED

Alberta aims to boost emergency response times with $25M investment, new private-public partnerships

Apr 11, 2024 | 11:56 AM

The Alberta government aims to boost 911 response times by investing millions to replace aging emergency vehicles and through public-private partnerships for patient transfer services.

To help reduce emergency response times, Budget 2024 provides an additional $25 million towards a total investment of $35 million over three years to the EMS Vehicles Capital Program, a funding boost highlighted by officials Thursday.

This funding will support the replacement of EMS vehicles that have reached the end of their life cycle and ensure that in-service vehicles are appropriately maintained, updated and provided with additional equipment to meet the needs of both urban and rural Albertans.

Health minister Adriana LaGrange said the funding will directly impact Albertans.

“Albertans requiring transport to emergency rooms or other health facilities need to receive timely, safe and appropriate care,” LaGrange said.

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“Funding for fleet improvements not only enhances system capacity, stability and response times but also provides our dedicated EMS practitioners with the vehicles and equipment they need to continue delivering exceptional care.”

The Alberta government also revealed a pair of new private contracts for interfacility transfer services aimed at keeping local ambulances working in their communities.

Chris Gallaway, the executive director at Friends of Medicare, blasted the new transfer partnerships.

“Here we go again, another ideological decision from the UCP government that prioritizes contracts going to for-profit health care delivery rather than bolstering our public health care system,” Gallaway said.

“The government’s decision today is purely political, in spite of clear evidence that the privatization of emergency services is not a solution to our problems. These services are currently being delivered by the public system and there’s no reason they shouldn’t continue to be.”

This is a developing story. More details to follow.