FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2000
Future of air
ambulance in doubt as paramedics opt out of privatization plan
TORONTO – The future of Ontario’s emergency air ambulance
system is in doubt now that all 35 of the province’s permanent
full-time Critical Care Flight Paramedics (CCFPs) have opted to accept
a severance package rather than be party to the privatization of their
work.
"I don’t want their severance package," said paramedic
Darryl Taylor, a unit steward with Local 628 of the Ontario Public
Service Employees Union in Sudbury. "Being a paramedic is about
providing a crucial public service, not lining someone’s pockets. It’s
obscene that anyone should profit from someone else’s tragedy."
The privatization could cost the system up to 300 years of
paramedical experience, said Taylor.
"Critical Care Flight Paramedics make life-and-death decisions
where seconds count," he said. "There is no substitute for
experience when you’re in that kind of situation. It takes years at
this job before you’ve seen enough cases and had enough continuing
medical education before you feel fully confident that you can handle
whatever’s thrown at you. The average flight paramedic sees more in
two weeks than most rural emergency rooms see in a year."
On Sept. 13, Emergency Health Services Director Graham Brand told
employees that the Health Ministry would issue a "Request for
Proposals" (RFP) in October to invite private operators to run
emergency air ambulance service. Under the collective agreement
between the Ontario government and OPSEU, employees have the option to
be included in the RFP or accept a severance package and layoff
notice. Facing a deadline of last Friday, the permanent CCFPs opted
out of the RFP (several paramedics working on contract did not have
the option).
The Ministry of Health has offered no rationale for the planned
privatization, which the union says cannot possibly save money.
"Severance costs alone will cost the government at least $1.6
million," said Taylor.
The province’s dedicated air ambulance service operates
helicopter bases in Toronto, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay and fixed-wing
airplane bases in Timmins and Sioux Lookout. The five bases respond to
over 4,000 emergency calls a year.
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For more information:
Darryl Taylor (705) 677-7416 (cell)
Randy Robinson (416) 448-7441; (416) 315-2982 (cell)
Related Information
Air
ambulance facts
