SHA announces additional paramedic positions for Regina to battle shortage | 24CA News

The Saskatchewan authorities has introduced that new paramedic positions will probably be added to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Regina over the subsequent three months.

A complete of 24.5 full-time paramedic positions will probably be added and can price the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) $2.4 million yearly.

“It’s very exciting that we have new opportunities for paramedics in Regina but also across Saskatchewan,” mentioned Saskatchewan Minister of Health Paul Merriman.

“We know there have been some pressures there as well as in Saskatoon. We want to make sure that we have the right complement of individuals to help address any emergency needs in the Queen City.”

This plan comes sooner or later after the SHA and provincial authorities introduced the addition of 100 post-secondary coaching seats for major care paramedic college students on the Saskatchewan Polytechnic and regional faculties.

EMS name volumes in Regina have elevated by over 14 per cent since 2020.

Paramedic Services Chiefs of Saskatchewan (PSCS) president Steven Skoworodko mentioned there are three foremost causes for the rise in name quantity.

“Number one is we’re seeing an increase in population in the province, which is a good thing, but it also means more resources needed in their time of need,” Skoworodko mentioned.

“Secondly, we have an aging senior population. So that baby boomer group is getting older, and as we always get older our needs for health care are increasing.”

He mentioned the third was residuals from the pandemic, like folks not addressing their well being points throughout the peak of COVID-19.

“We’ve never seen this shortage of staff and qualified paramedics in the province.”

He mentioned a survey was completed of the membership within the spring that confirmed 102 vacancies within the province, with a few of these positions left empty for so long as two years.

“More paramedics and more boots on the ground can meet more urgent needs in Regina,” Merriman mentioned.

The new paramedic positions within the metropolis will absolutely workers two further ambulances and two smaller paramedic response items.

Smaller response items are used to help major paramedics on superior calls or beat the ambulance to the scene to begin offering quick care.

“Investing in additional ambulance capacity is not just about adding resources, it’s about improving the quality of life for our paramedics and ensuring the timely delivery of critical care to those in need in our province,” SHA provincial services-community care government director Rod MacKenzie mentioned.

Saskatchewan is just not experiencing a excessive turnover price of paramedics from post-secondary colleges, so the province mentioned it’s centered on retention as an alternative.

“We’re not seeing a lot of those new people come out of school, and we’re finding that a lot of the people that are taking the primary care paramedic program aren’t actually coming out and practising in an ambulance,” mentioned Skoworodko.

He mentioned there are different avenues folks can go along with that course, like industrial or hearth.

“Our paramedics that are trained in Saskatchewan are the best in the world,” mentioned Merriman. “We know that they are sought after but we want to make sure it is advantageous for them to choose specifically Regina and Saskatoon, but also rural and remote communities.”

— with recordsdata from Global News’ Brody Langager. 

1:15Additional seats added to Saskatchewan well being care coaching applications

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