An increase in the number of paramedics and hospital emergency liaison officers in Calgary is expected to have a trickle-down effect upon Cochrane.

Yesterday, the Alberta Government announced the hiring of 100 more paramedics provincewide, 30 of which will be based in Calgary, and additional resources to get Albertans emergency care quicker.

The additional $29 million for Alberta’s provincewide EMS system will enhance the province’s five-point action plan in an attempt to alleviate pressures on emergency rooms and support frontline works.

While no further ambulances or paramedics are being assigned to Cochrane, of particular interest to the community is the more aggressive transfer program of patients from paramedic teams to hospital emergency departments. Eight new hospital emergency liaison officer positions have been allocated to Calgary to alleviate what has been seen as a bottleneck in the system.

“By having more EMS resources in Calgary and some surrounding rural areas, as well as implementing Hospital Emergency Medical Services Officers, we’ll be able to consolidate patients in our largest adult emergency departments,” explains government spokesperson Kate Toogood. “This will help get ambulances back on the road quickly, so areas like Cochrane are better supported.”

Toogood says the government is acutely aware of the need for further medical emergency resources and is responding.

“This funding begins to address EMS pressures; we have identified additional priorities that will be addressed as more funding becomes available including new station infrastructure and additional front-line resources,” she says.

“We know there is more to do to ensure all Albertans have access to ambulance services, and our priority is working with AHS to ensure Albertans get the care they need when they need it.”

The time EMS crews have been tied up at Calgary hospitals has been repeatedly red-flagged when discussing the issue here in Cochrane. So, too, has the time commitment and direct cost to Cochrane residents of committing fire services personnel and resources to aid EMS.

Town Councillor Alex Reed has repeatedly expressed concern over both and his initial reaction to this announcement is positive. But he is cautious in his comments.

“This is great news if it, in fact, trickles down to our community. Without the details, my fear is that this will only support the larger Alberta communities and nothing to address the real issue of robbing smaller communities of these skilled essential services.”

Besides Calgary and Edmonton, other Alberta cities receiving additional EMS staff are Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat. Sylvan Lake, Vilna, St. Paul and Westlock are all receiving additional personnel in order to establish 24/7 ambulance coverage.