Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The soap bottle just missed his head. Standing in the doorway of a cluttered Halifax apartment, Derek, a primary care paramedic, watched it smash against the wall. Derek was there because the woman who threw it had called 911 again — she did so nearly every day. She said she had chest pain. But when she saw the green patch on his uniform, she erupted. Green meant he could not give her what she wanted: fentanyl. She screamed at him to call “the red tags” — advanced care paramedics authorized to administer opioids. With none available, Derek declared the scene unsafe and left. Later that night, she called again. This time, a red-patched unit was available. She got her dose. Derek says he was not angry at the woman, but at the system that left her trapped in addiction — and him powerless to help ... CLICK HERE for the full story

. . . . French stumbled to the car behind him and managed to convey to the woman that he needed an ambulance. “I can’t see anything but… the centre, we normally would have concentration, it’s completely out,” he said. “And, you know, it’s still swirling and I can’t see anything" . . . . . . . . “They said the paramedics are coming. They hung up. And an-hour-and-a-half later, no one showed up. No police, no fire, nothing" . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

  The president of Ambulance Paramedics of BC says continued emergency room closures in the Interior Health zone is putting pressure on paramedics in neighbouring communities. So far in September, the ER at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C. was temporarily forced to shut its doors eight times. The health agency says this is a direct result of limited physician availability. On Saturday, yet another ER closure was announced for SOGH. From 6 p.m. until 8 a.m., residents in Oliver were once again advised to access care at Penticton Regional Hospital, which is roughly a 40-minute drive – not ideal for paramedics who are faced with an hour and 20-minute round trip. "It defintely puts pressure on the system,” said president of Ambulance Paramedics of BC, Troy Clifford .. CLICK HERE for the full story