Representatives of the Fraternité des travailleurs et travailleuses du préhospitalier du Québec (FTPQ), CUPE 7300, were surprised to learn that, in spite of an advisory issued by the national medical director (NMD), private ambulance companies in Quebec have been continuing to purchase inadequately sized ambulances. They are too small to allow paramedics to provide optimal care to patients during transfers between hospitals, as the paramedics are forced to sit up front outside the care module.
“This is yet one more case where profit takes precedence over patients. By preventing paramedics who are familiar with their working environment from using their expertise to the fullest, the ambulance team is not in a position to offer the best care. Providing care and applying medical protocols in a vehicle that is often exceeding speed limits is no easy task. The NMD understands this, but the people running the ambulance companies clearly decided to ignore him,” said Benoit Cowell, president of CUPE 7300.
Although these ambulances are unable to accommodate four attendants in the care module, the vast majority of private ambulance companies have been purchasing them. This type of vehicle, despite not having been adapted, will be replacing the current fleet of ambulances. Of course, they do not cost as much to purchase and to use. Bear in mind that these companies are completely funded by the public sector.
The FTPQ is demanding that emergency pre-hospital services in Quebec be nationalized. The current system with its obscure funding and symbolic accountability is not providing the public with the service it is entitled to.