EMS boost to 31 Sask communities

An increase of $8.8 million annual funding in the 2023-24 provincial budget will support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) improvements for 31 Saskatchewan communities by adding rural and remote ground ambulance staff, expanding community paramedicine, addressing wage parity issues, and providing more operational funding for contracted EMS operators and communication upgrades.

“EMS providers in Saskatchewan communities are on the frontlines of patient care, and our government is committed to supporting this critical priority area with funding for additional paramedics, ambulances and other essential resources,” said Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley.

“This year’s investment is part of a multiyear commitment to stabilize emergency services and modernize the system to improve overall response times, patient care and patient flow through the system as well as addressing offload delays.”

The funding increase includes over $3.5 million to support the addition of 33 full-time equivalent (FTE) posi - tions in the following 27 Sask communities: Biggar, Carnduff, Cupar, Cut Knife, Eston, Fillmore, Hudson Bay, Kamsack, Kindersley, Lestock, Lloydminster, Melville, Moose Jaw, Nipiwin, Norquay, North Battleford, Outlook, Porcupine Plain, Prince Albert, Radville, Shaunavon, Stoughton, Wakaw, Wawota, Weyburn, Wilkie and Yorkton.

A $739,000 increase will expand the community paramedicine program within five communities in rural and northern Saskatchewan, further enhancing the available community supports.

This funding includes an additional 3.75 FTE community paramedicine positions that will be distributed across a number of ground ambulance services in the province, including the communities of La Ronge, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Estevan and Weyburn.

“The additional funding provided by the Government of Saskatchewan is another positive step to advanc-