One of 31 rural communities to receive an expansion in emergency health services
Nakusp is set to receive an expansion of emergency health services, with eight full-time paramedics to staff a 24/7 ambulance service.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) recently wrote to Nakusp Mayor Tom Zeleznik to notify him of the expansion. He shared that letter with Arrow Lakes News.
The letter states that BCEHS is expanding paramedic resources in the community, as part of the Ministry of Health’s 2020 announcement of funding for the Rural, Remote and Indigenous Framework (RRIF).
“We have been monitoring and listening to feedback from your community and are now taking action,” reads the letter from BCEHS. “After much analysis as well as input from you and other stakeholders, we have made the decision to convert the current staffing model in your community.”
The model will switch from the Scheduled On-Call (SOC) that is currently in place, to a 24/7 Alpha model, which means a fully staffed ambulance, around the clock, with full-time paramedic positions.
“This will create eight more permanent, full-time jobs in your community and will help stabilize paramedic staffing, which in turn will improve responsiveness and emergency coverage,” the letter reads. “This transition will impact the current four regular part-time positions associated with SOC at this ambulance station.”
Zeleznik notes that it will take quite some time to implement these changes, but hails it as a step in the right direction.
The Mayor has been advocating for better services in the area on behalf of the ambulance and paramedic service, as well as the community.
He was one of the presenters at the 2022 Small Talk Forum at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) this week.
Part of the presentation included accounts of residents waiting hours for care and paramedics working alone.
“Over this past long BC Day weekend, Nakusp and New Denver ambulance/paramedic station had only a lone responder at each station and our local fire departments, road rescue and search and rescue were having to pick up the slack,” Zeleznik presented. “So, we put on social media that we recommend when you call for an ambulance to ask how long the response time will be, and then BCEHS will have to make the decision that is best for you or your loved one.”
