The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA) is looking for funding for ambulances.
Regional deputy fire chief Jay Melvin appeared before the Town of Bonnyville council during their regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 9 to discuss the BRFA budget, and explain the need for support regarding their emergency vehicles and the shortfall of funding from AHS.
The BRFA is looking for additional dollars because the capital reserve, which is used to purchase and repair their ambulances, has been drained over the years by keeping the current ambulances road ready. This is due to the rise in patient transfers out of the area in the last couple of years. Melvin encouraged council to lobby AHS to reconsider the budget for the area’s emergency response vehicles, as the renewed contract doesn’t cover the repairs they need.
The current agreement between AHS and the BRFA that covers the cost of operating ambulances, was described by Melvin as a “challenging contract” to operate. According to the arrangement, the province provides ambulance services for the community, which they fund through a contract with the BRFA.
“Presently, we don’t ask municipalities for any funding to support a provincial initiative to provide health services for the province,” Melvin said.
Even though the number of patient transfers has increased over the years, AHS hasn’t adjusted the BRFA’s budget to reflect the changes.
Melvin explained, “Maintenance on our ambulances is extremely high to keep them on the road. Our transfers are a level of service we’ve provided to the community that has drastically increased since the contract was written several years ago, and, unfortunately, the funding hasn’t followed with that.”
Reserve funds have been used for maintenance issues, making the affordability of new ambulances difficult for the BRFA.
Mayor Gene Sobolewski, who is also chair of the BRFA board, recalled the area having five ambulances before the arrangement with AHS. The contract brought that number down to three.
“We have these nasty breakdowns, and we don’t have any back-up. Is it going to be necessary to put some political pressure on the government to try and see whether or not, or at least the folks running the ambulance service to say ‘hey, wait a minute, we may need to start funding some of these back-up units?’” he asked.
While the contract with AHS funds four ambulances, three active and one on standby, the issue comes from a jump in activity since the topic was originally discussed in 2009.
“When we took over, we were selling ambulances that had 350,000 kilometres on them. Right now, we’re well into the high 400,000 kilometres. We’re seeing extensive mechanical breakdowns, engines, transmissions, and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better,” Melvin explained, adding the BRFA had to create their own funding plan for maintenance.
“Now they’re reaching out to us, at least at the last meeting I was at about a year and a half ago, and essentially said ‘you guys have to come up with a different program, because we don’t have enough money.’ That, to me, was something that they need to recognize,” Sobolewski said.
Melvin encouraged any support from the town to lobby AHS to reconsider the budget for all of their equipment, as the price tag on these pieces is quite high.
“Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be as forthcoming with the understanding that the service level has changed, but the funding to support that hasn’t,” Melvin said, noting that preventative maintenance is being done to keep the fleet functional.
Now, the BRFA board will likely have Melvin draw up a request for the town, requesting funds at a future date.
In a statement, senior media relations advisor for AHS Kirsten Goruk said “AHS EMS recently finalized negotiations with the BRFA to extend its contract to provide ambulance services to the community and surrounding area. The prior five-year contract expired in August 2018 and has been extended until August 2020... AHS is always available to meet with its EMS partners to discuss any concerns that may arise.”
