It was a definite first step Monday when BCEHS announced three additional paramedic resources allocated to Castlegar.
Unfortunately, it does nothing to address the lack of actual ambulances in the West Kootenay. The more significant threat to health care in the region is the delay in transfers or emergency response because of a shortage of available vehicles equipped with advanced-care paramedics.
As a reader commented on our story, 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to do nothing to improve service to Castlegar and push out every part-timer who has been keeping that station staffed. Sooner or later people will realize we need more ambulances, not paramedics losing their jobs. At the end of the day, Castlegar still has two ambulances, whether it鈥檚 staffed by full time or part time it changes nothing when looking at the level of service delivered to the community.鈥�
Having BCEHS recognize the seriousness of the situation and take steps to rectify it is a great sign, but it is just a bandage on an open wound. As we鈥檝e established in our six-part investigative series, Critical Condition, the problem goes much beyond paramedic staffing numbers.
There is a recognized lack of support for rural British Columbians, identified in several studies and independent audits. We鈥檝e received many personal stories that provide solid, if anecdotal, evidence of the dangers in this approach to rural care.
We鈥檝e also established that the province could save lives and millions of dollars in health care costs by instituting a more efficient system that better provides pre-hospital care to all of B.C.鈥檚 residents regardless of postal code.
A vice-president from STARS 鈥� the successful and critically lauded air ambulance program 鈥� said his organization would be very willing to sit down with BCEHS and the province to talk about potential solutions to service those gaps identified by non-partisan experts. When you also consider that many primary health facilities in the province will come due for replacement at approximately the same time, we鈥檒l need to find multiple solutions involving innovative technology, training and HR ingenuity to provide the necessary level of care without bankrupting the province.
What is clear after three months of investigation and reporting is this: People need to keep the pressure on those with the ability to research, approve and deliver meaningful solutions to our region. They need to call, email and message representatives at BCEHS, your MLA and provincial media outlets to push for real movement.
They鈥檝e heard us and have responded. Now those in power need to hear from you. A united front of key representatives from the Kootenays working together with a sitting minister (MLA Katrine Conroy) could make a lot of noise and fast.
There have been recommendations put forward and an 鈥淎ction Plan鈥� in place for several years.
An Action Plan with little action is not much of a plan, and it could be devastating for many families.
We鈥檝e leveraged interviews with many industry experts to lay the groundwork for change. Now, someone needs to step up and follow through.
