As contract negotiations continue for B.C. Ambulance Paramedics, the union is raising concerns about the pressure its members get put under during emergency room closures.

The Ambulance Paramedics of BC – CUPE Local 873 says there have been more than 250 separate hospital and emergency room closures across the province this year.

“As these closures increase, the weight on paramedics grows heavier. Our members are being asked to fill gaps across the system that continue to widen,” Jason Jackson, president of the union, said in a news release.

As a result of the closures, the union says ambulance paramedics are often the only accessible healthcare providers, and it often happens during severe weather, long transport dispatches, and record call volumes.

“Our paramedics have stepped up again and again,” Jackson says.

“We’re sending our paramedics across the province to keep communities staffed and covered, but with every closure, it’s harder for them to keep the system moving. When an ER goes dark for a night or a weekend, that pressure doesn’t disappear—it lands squarely on the backs of our paramedics.”

The union says contract negotiations have been underway since mid-September, and that part of what it is calling for is ensuring the paramedic workforce is properly supported and stabilized.

“We’ve come to the table with solutions focused on strengthening emergency care, public safety and improving response times for 911 calls,” Jackson says.

“But we need government to recognize the level of responsibility being placed on paramedics. You can’t keep leaning on the same people to hold the system together without ensuring they have the resources and support they need. We need to face the realities of recruiting, retaining and training staff in a competitive labour market.”

In the interim, Jackson is encouraging people, especially those in communities that have seen closures, to be prepared as the winter storm season approaches.

“If your local hospital has had closures in the past, please have a plan,” Jackson says.

“Know your nearest available ER, be aware of weather conditions, and understand that transport times may be longer during these closures. When in doubt, call 911, and know that our dispatchers and paramedics are working around the clock on your behalf.”

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