PC MLA asks when King will uphold promise to add more ambulances

A Progressive Conservative backbencher and long-time paramedic wants to know when his government will uphold its promise to add more ambulances on P.E.I.

Robin Croucher says Island paramedics are overworked and burned out

Brittany Spencer · CBC News · Posted: May 25, 2023 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 25, 2023

A parked ambulance has its lights flashing. — During the spring election campaign, Dennis King's Progressive Conservative Party promised to add four new full-time ambulances to the Island EMS fleet. (Pat Martel/CBC)

A Progressive Conservative backbencher and long-time paramedic from the Souris area wants to know when his own government will uphold its promise to add more ambulances on Prince Edward Island.

Robin Croucher raised the issue in the legislature Wednesday, saying he knows the strain paramedics are feeling and he worries about burnout.

With the pressures being felt at hospital right across P.E.I., he said he fears the strain will only get worse.

"Our paramedics are overworked," he said. "They struggle with workload, burnouts, and I am worried about them."

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During the spring election campaign, the PCs promised to add four new full-time ambulances to the Island EMS fleet. Croucher said these four new units would reduce pressure on the system and response time for current paramedics.

He asked the premier when Islanders could expect to see the government follow through on that promise.

Premier Dennis King stands in the P.E.I. Legislature speaking. — P.E.I. Premier Dennis King says the province is focused on a 'very aggressive recruitment plan' to keep Holland College paramedic graduates on the Island as well as bring in new grads from other provinces. (Legislative Assembly of P.E.I. )

"When does our government intend to see these four new units put into service?"

Premier Dennis King said getting more vehicles on the road is one thing, but finding people to properly staff the new ambulances is the real challenge.

We don't want to have three vehicles on and have nobody in them.— Premier Dennis King

"We're working closely with Holland College; there's 47 grads expected from Holland College this year," King said.

"We're obviously hoping to bring some of those online as quickly as possible, but we want to make sure we can do this without causing more impact on the system. We don't want to have three vehicles on and have nobody in them."

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King didn't give a timeline for when those four new ambulances could be on the road.

Focus on recruitment

Croucher said Island EMS recently hired 17 additional staff, which he called positive news, but he said more needs to be done to fill vacancies and expand services.

He asked the premier what measures are being taken to recruit and streamline applications to get more paramedics into the field faster.

King said those 17 new staff members are now going through an orientation process with Island EMS.

A man stands in the P.E.I. Legislature holding a piece of paper. — PC MLA Robin Croucher noted in the legislature that Island EMS recently hired 17 additional staff. (Legislative Assembly of P.E.I.)

He said he and the former health minister have met with students at Holland College in an attempt to recruit new graduates, and pledged to continue to move forward with "a very aggressive recruitment plan."

King added: "It is a difficult job. I want to recruit as many individuals as I can to the province so we can lessen the burden."