N.L. makes move toward integrated ambulance service for whole province

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Minister Tom Osborne says the province will move toward a common ambulance service.

Speaking with reporters Thursday, Osborne said a request for proposals is being issued for a proponent that will design, manage and operate a single, integrated road and air ambulance service for the province. 

The change would see about 60 different road ambulance services come under a centralized service managed by a private company that would also be responsible for air service. 

Osborne said the province also wants an improved air ambulance to better serve areas that haven't been traditionally served well.

Submissions for the RFP are due in early 2024 with the goal of implementing the new road ambulance system within a year, but Osborne acknowledged the air ambulance part may take longer.

The move was a key recommendation of the Health Accord N.L. task force, which filed its final report on a 10-year plan for the health-care system in June 2022. Pat Parfrey, one of the co-chairs of the Health Accord, is now the deputy minister of health transformation in the provincial government. 

"Our system right now is fragmented in many ways, and we have a large province with a diverse geography," Cassie Chisholm, NL Health Services' vice-president of transformation-health systems, said Thursday.

"We really need a very integrated, modernized air and road ambulance system that is designed, purpose built to meet the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador."

The government tipped its hand on its intentions for a consolidated ambulance service in March's provincial budget, when it earmarked $9 million for the transition.

Even with a move to a single operator, the health minister indicated that the change should not result in layoffs. 

The ambulances would be publicly owned, Osborne said, but any helicopters or air ambulance would be privatized because the province can't afford to purchase a fleet of aircraft.

Privatization 'a broken promise': NAPE

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public Employees (NAPE) President Jerry Earle believes bringing ambulance services together is a good idea, but is opposed to the air ambulance service now being privatized. Earle said he has concerns for the dozens of air ambulance workers he represents.

"These are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that have provided emergency service for decades. And now today, weeks before Christmas,[they find] that they are likely out of work because of privatization. That is unacceptable," he said.

"The premier made a public statement saying this is not a path we are on. Here we are again today. Not once, this is several times we have had this happen. It's unacceptable. It's a broken promise."

Osborne said the province will work to ensure that anyone working in private or community ambulance services would become a public servant of the government, which he added would help with the recruitment and retention of professionals.

Asked why a private contract was the right approach to take over NL Health Services managing the system, he said the large, new undertaking required it — and didn't rule out the province managing the system in the future.

"This is a huge undertaking," he said. "Having somebody manage and coordinate this, especially out of the gate, will ensure that we don't drop the ball."

NDP Leader Jim Dinn said the contract doesn't inspire confidence, saying it shows the province doesn't have faith in its managers to build the system properly.

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.