Tumbler Ridge, Hudson’s Hope receiving new paramedic staffing models

TUMBLER RIDGE, HUDSON’S HOPE, B.C. — BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has announced a staffing model change for paramedics in Tumbler Ridge and Hudson’s Hope.

Earlier this year, the province accepted the three recommendations brought forward by the BCEHS, the Ambulance Paramedics and Ambulance Dispatchers of BC to implement three different models: alpha, mix shift and kilo.

According to the Ministry of Health, Tumbler Ridge is one of 21 stations transitioning to an alpha model, which means the community will have at least eight full-time paramedics. Staff will be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through the alpha model, paramedics will be in the station and on duty three times more than through the existing method.

Hudson’s Hope is one of 25 stations adopting the mix shift model, with eight regular part-time staff in stations. Staff will be in the station for 16 hours daily and on call for eight hours daily.

The ministry says the mix shift model was introduced to provide staff with a more flexible schedule as well as a better work-life balance. Stations moving to this model will have staff on duty in the station twice as often as they previously did.

The kilo model, where a unit chief and staff are on call, will be implemented in 14 communities.

“We are excited to be bringing these staffing model improvements to our paramedics and the rural and remote communities we serve,” said Leanne Heppell, BCEHS’ Chief Ambulance Officer.

“We recognize that one staffing model doesn’t work for all parts of the province, and these three models will help us improve our services to better meet the needs of the community and patients and enable more of our paramedics to live and work in their home communities.”

The work to bring the recommendations forward included consultations with staff, the communities, First Nation leaders and health authorities.

“Paramedics play a major role in small-town healthcare. With this announcement, thanks to our continuing collaborative approach to improving deployment and staffing, we will see a renewed commitment to providing many new full-time resources to dozens of communities across B.C.,” said Ambulance Paramedics of BC president Jason Jackson. 

“This is a fundamental change in how we provide paramedic services in these communities and will address how we respond to 911 calls, how we recruit and retain paramedics to work in smaller communities, and most importantly, how we can provide better care to our patients.“

The new models will also open up 261 full-time paramedic positions in rural communities and 238 full-time equivalent jobs throughout the province.

The transformation also includes a new ratified collection agreement, which increased the on-call pay rate to $12 an hour from $2 an hour.

The release from the Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Emergency Health Services and the Ministry of Health did not state when the transitions would occur.