VANCOUVER — The Ambulance Paramedics of BC (APBC) union is sounding the alarm over the increasing temporary closures of Emergency Rooms (ERs) across British Columbia, warning that the practice is placing an unsustainable burden on the entire healthcare system.
The union revealed that over 250 ERs across the province have faced temporary closures this year alone. APBC President Jason Jackson stated that the resulting pressure from these closures falls squarely on the shoulders of paramedics.
“Asking our members to fill the gaps created by these closures is only making the situation worse,” Jackson said.
The closures severely impact ambulance services by increasing the travel time required to transport patients to alternative hospitals. According to Jackson, every additional ER closure makes operating the current system more difficult. The APBC is urging the government to take immediate action to address the critical shortage of healthcare workers to stabilize the province’s emergency medical services.
