April 15, 2021

Winnipeg
-1° C, Overcast

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • The StarNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Winnipeg Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
Local

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Province to close 23 EMS facilities

Low-volume stations will be replaced by 5 strategically placed facilities

By: Jillian Austin
Posted: 4:00 AM CDT Friday, Jun. 30, 2017
Last Modified: 7:25 AM CDT Friday, Jun. 30, 2017 | Updates

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
  • Save to Read Later
Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced an investment of more than $1.7 million for enhanced paramedic staffing across three regional health authorities yesterday, during an event at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)</p>

Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced an investment of more than $1.7 million for enhanced paramedic staffing across three regional health authorities yesterday, during an event at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. (Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun)

BRANDON — A major overhaul of Manitoba’s emergency medical services will include the closure of 23 low-call-volume rural stations.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/6/2017 (1385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — A major overhaul of Manitoba’s emergency medical services will include the closure of 23 low-call-volume rural stations.

Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said five new strategically-placed stations will replace the shuttered stations as the province moves to a goal of 24/7 paramedic coverage.

"It’s not about where the stations are located so much, it’s about where the ambulances are located and the flexibility to have them in different places," he said Thursday.

New sites will be located in Alonsa, Cowan, Miniota, Eriksdale and Manigotagan, while stations in Virden and Glenboro will be enhanced. The changes stem from recommendations contained in the 2013 provincial EMS review, authored by Reg Toews and commissioned by the previous NDP government.

The list of stations to close includes Baldur, Birtle, Boissevain, Cartwright, Elkhorn, Ethelbert, Grandview, Hamiota, Hartney, McCreary, Oak Lake, Reston, Rossburn, Treherne and Wawanesa. Also on the block are stations in Elie, Manitou, Swan Lake, Bissett, Lundar, Pinawa, Reynolds and Riverton.

A provincial spokesperson stressed the facilities will not be closed until capacity is created with new sites. The stations to be closed may be repurposed as maintenance facilities, storage or used as flexible dispatch posts.

At a gathering Thursday at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, Goertzen announced the province will invest $1.7 million to add 29 full-time paramedic positions across three regional health authorities: Prairie Mountain Health, Southern Health and Interlake-Eastern.

"These new positions... will offer more stable and enhanced service to (people) in those regions," he said. "And they move us into the right direction of a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week paramedic and EMS system."

They will replace on-call, standby shifts at seven stations across southern Manitoba, said Corene Debreuil, acting executive director of health emergency management with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.

"When paramedics are on standby, that means they have to travel back to their station to pick up the ambulance before they can proceed to a call," she said. "Reducing our reliance on standby shifts and funding permanent positions supports quicker response times."

Times have changed greatly when it comes to paramedics, Goertzen said.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

"Years ago... they were simply viewed as the people who picked you up and brought you to the hospital for care," he said. "Those days are long gone. Now, that care begins when the paramedics show up.

"The care that Manitobans need at the time of their greatest need happens when that paramedic arrives."

Cameron Ritzer, chairman of the Paramedic Association of Manitoba, spoke in favour of the transition to 24-hour staffing, saying it guarantees paramedics are always prepared and able to respond in "the most sound mind and body."

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, however, was not as optimistic.

"In 2013, the EMS review called for the addition of 400 EMS responders in the province — and with a population that continues to grow, this is a very small step forward in achieving that," president Michelle Gawronsky said in a statement. "It’s prudent that the government act now to fill those 400 positions before closing any sites, because until that happens no improvements to patient care are possible."

— Brandon Sun, with Free Press files

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

History

Updated on Friday, June 30, 2017 at 7:25 AM CDT: Fixes headline

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top