Ambulance dispatch centralizing plan delayed by province

The Alberta government is delaying a plan to centralize ambulance dispatch in the province.

The government had planned to create three hubs — in Calgary, Edmonton and Peace River — by January.

But the mayors of Red Deer and Lethbridge are unhappy about losing their local dispatch services.

"Our response times within Lethbridge are about six to eight minutes on average,” said that city’s mayor, Chris Spearman.

The Lethbridge-based dispatchers have a better sense of the local geography than a centralized one would, he said.

"We're very worried about an integrated service operated out of Calgary that will result in slower response times,” he said.

Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne said he understands the concerns and is setting up a new working group to examine the issues.

But Horne said a provincial dispatch service can better deploy help where it's needed.

“We can't have situations where ambulances drive by emergencies because they're perceived to belong to another community,” he said.

Spearman said the province should create about six regional dispatch centres.