Council funds four new firefighter/paramedics

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This article was published 02/02/2022 (1696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Four new firefighter/paramedics are being added to the ranks of Brandon Fire and Emergency Services in a bid to help reduce strain on the EMS system.

Brandon City Council voted to add the interim positions during 2022 budget deliberations on Saturday.

“The feeling was that this was something that we could do to help our residents and help our staff in the short-term … I don’t think this is a long-term solution from our standpoint from the city because we do feel that Shared Health needs to address this problem,” said Coun. Bruce Luebke (South Centre), who presented the motion.

The $293,287 for the interim position was reallocated from funds expected to go toward firefighter/paramedics overtime and allocations to fire service vehicles, Luebke said. The hope is the additional positions will reduce the need for overtime, so the BFES budget didn’t grow in response and there is no new cost to taxpayers.

The motion funds the positions for approximately a year, he said.

The move comes after BFES Chief Scott McDonald told councillors the service had seen a 10 per cent increase in EMS calls over the course of 2021. The calls included a jump in primary responses and patient transfers between hospitals.

As a result, paramedic and ambulance resources are being “strained,” McDonald told the Sun last week.

According to numbers provided by Brandon firefighter/paramedic union president Terry Browett, BFES ran an average of approximately 48 inter-facility transfers a month in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2021, however, the number jumped to an average of approximately 59 per month.

Speaking at the Saturday meeting, Mayor Rick Chrest described the move as a “bridge” while Shared Health and the province find a permanent solution.

“It’s kind of a win-win on many fronts,” he said, adding he hopes it will provide resources quickly.

Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes) said he was glad to see council taking the step.

“I have a lot of faith in our partners … at the provincial building are going to step up, they’re going to see what’s going on, realize there’s a real problem not only in Brandon but in the province.

“The time for talk is done, it’s time for action and to do something.”

The motion passed unanimously.

The Sun was unable to reach McDonald for comment on Wednesday.

Speaking on Wednesday, Browett welcomed the news, but said more permanent help is needed.

“It’s definitely a good start to relieve some of the pressures that we’re feeling, especially with the long-distance transfers to Winnipeg and to the other communities,” he said.

“If those staff are not going on those long-distance trips, there will be some added support in town as well.”

The increase in personnel means the service will be able to staff more ambulances at peak times.

The new staff will likely take on the patient transfers, he said, which will free up BFES staff to respond to medical or fire calls within the city. Previously, Browett said there was concern there could be times when no one was available.

“That was the biggest problem. We were running short in the city to fill ambulances, and it was becoming a bit of a safety issue, and that will hopefully go away.”

The exact details of the positions are still being determined, according to Browett.

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