Chief paramedic backs city's plan, despite CUPE predictions of 'crisis'

The closure of nine fire halls has dominated the headlines from the City of Greater Sudbury's proposed fire and paramedic services optimization plan.

And paramedics are concerned about what the report means for them.

"Although it's titled fire and paramedic optimization, it really seems geared toward the fire aspect. And issues involving the ambulance services really aren't being addressed," said CUPE local 4705 president Darryl Taylor.

Sudbury's ambulance service is at capacity right now, according to Taylor. 

He said he wants the city to look at ambulance call volumes more closely.

'Very few' ambulances available

Taylor told CBC News the plan doesn't anticipate future increases in call volumes, or community needs.

"There have been numerous occasions where ambulance calls have been waiting and there have been very few, if any, ambulances available at times," he said.

"I think that needs to be addressed before there is a real crisis."

Paramedic Chief backs city plan

But Trevor Bain, the head of the city's paramedic services, said he feels the new optimization plan doesn't ignore paramedics at all. 

Bain said the strategy improves working conditions for paramedics, establishing a central dispatch location and even adding two more staff positions.

He also pointed out that paramedic services and fire services shouldn't be lumped together in the same category or share the same benchmarks for speed and care.

"Fire Services protects buildings, infrastructure, reputation, economy and people," Bain said. "Paramedics on the other hand, protect people. The services provided by each are vastly different.

"It is incorrect to assume that any single data point can be used to make conclusions about staffing needs for either service," he said.

Chief 'very proud' of paramedic service's response time

In his written response, Bain said council has been in the paramedics' corner for over a decade.

"Council has set one of the most aggressive legislated Response Time Performance Plans in the province. When the 2015 results were compared against all other services in the province, our Paramedic Service was in the top eight."

"This means we have one of the best performing Paramedic Services in the province, something I am very proud of as Chief of Fire and Paramedic Services," he stated. 

The next public information session about the proposed fire and paramedic services optimization plan will take place on Monday from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Place.

A special council meeting will be held on April 26 to vote on the plan.