Ambulances Delayed With Hospital Backlogs
Written by Jeremy Zafran on 23 August 2022
Some issues at regional hospitals are creating headaches for the ambulance service. Whishe Stacey Captain with the Kahnawake fire brigade on the current issues:
“Right now what’s going on in the area and I don’t think it’s exclusive to Kahnàwake or Montreal or Quebec for that fact, all the hospitals are being overwhelmed. Exactly what the reasons are, I could not tell you, but it has been and continues to affect the Kahnàwake ambulance service and what we can provide to the community.”
Stacey says that whether you’re calling for an ambulance or going to the hospital on your own, wait times are now a daily reality:
“If you’re just looking for a simple quick ride to the hospital, understand you are still going to wait. Showing up to an hospital by ambulance will not make the hospital see you seen any quicker.”
If the emergency is life-threatening, you’re life won’t be placed at risk:
“If you do have an emergency and you feel that you need an ambulance follow the same procedures as before, please call the Peacekeepers and they will send whatever resources we have available. So, we have 2 ambulances in the community 24 hours a day, so if either of those ambulances are available they will be sent to you, if they are not available, our officer in charge will be sent to you and they will triage you and determine how long you can wait to see what other options are available. If it is a true emergency, we will call an ambulance from outside to come and get you.”
The Kahnàwake Peacekeepers can be called in the event both ambulances are out and options will be dealt with depending on the severity of the emergency.
