'Shock and disbelief': Notley and Smith spar over worried, leaked email about EMS changes
CTV
A unit manager at a hospital in Calgary wrote that they are "shocked and speechless" about a plan to have paramedics drop off patients and return to the streets in 45 minutes, something Alberta's premier downplayed as a "target" and the way it used to be.
A unit manager at a hospital in Calgary wrote that they are "shocked and speechless" about a plan to have paramedics drop off patients and return to the streets in 45 minutes, something Alberta's premier downplayed as a "target" and the way it used to be.
“I know this comes as a big shock to us all and I am not sure how we are going to manage this,” the manager wrote to colleagues in an email.
“Please know if there was anything I could to prevent this I would but this is being mandated from the government.”
The email was released Monday by the Alberta NDP. The author's name was blacked out in a copy provided to journalists.
It says the change is to take place on March 15, and the NDP claims similar orders have been issued at other hospitals.
"What's actually happening is paramedics are being directed to dump critically ill patients off at the ER, even if there's nobody there ready to care for them," Leader Rachel Notley said during question period in the legislature.
"This is dishonest, dangerous and it puts lives at risk."
