Some seniors not calling 911 for ambulance in Manitoba
Some low income seniors are thinking twice before dialing 911.
As CBC News reported last week in a Marketplace story, Manitoba has the highest ambulance fees in Canada.
In Winnipeg a trip to the hospital costs $512.
- No free ride: Ambulance bills in Manitoba highest in Canada
- Ambulance fees a roadblock for many who need care
Connie Newman, the executive director of the Manitoba Association of Seniors Centres, said she is hearing about some disturbing cases.
"It scares me immensely, that anyone over the age of 50 has to think twice about emergency service," she said.
"Last winter, when we had our uglies for winter, I had at least two cases that I am aware of in the city of Winnipeg where the older adult was at a community centre and refused for the staff to call the ambulance. "
Newman said this is despite the fact the centre staff felt an ambulance should be called. The senior, however, couldn't afford the bill.
"I had another situation, again in Winnipeg, again last winter, where an older adult was trying to walk to the hospital in -40 because she couldn't afford the ambulance," she said.
Newman said she later had a conversation with four friends about what they would have done in that situation.
"Three of us would immediately call an ambulance because we have extended health benefits. The other said 'no, don't call an ambulance.' With him, when the doctor says get yourself to a hospital, he phones one of his kids," she said.
"Today not all of us have kids in the city or living near us to call. So what happens? It scares me."
Newman is encouraging seniors' centres to have a policy in place so staff will know what to do.
"It becomes who is going to pay? All of the non-profit seniors' centres don't have the funds to pay," she said.
Newman wants elected officials to take notice and do better.
Even though the fees are the highest in Manitoba, Newman said there is another option to consider: urgent care centres.
"Maybe I as an individual, a neighbor, a friend, need to make the determination — is there an urgent care centre close to me? Can I get my friend to that urgent care centre? How big is the risk? Sometimes the risk is to call an ambulance," she said.
Newman said for some low income seniors, calling an ambulance is a real big deal. A scary deal. It means the difference between food on the table for many.
She wants to see the bill in Manitoba lowered as soon as possible.
"It is yesterday's urgency. It needs to be done now because the bulk of the population is over the age of 55 right now," she said.
"Stand up. Pay attention. There is going to be more older adults over the age of 65 than there is young people. This problem is not going away."