PCC Members,
On February 9th, the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC) Board of Directors held an advocacy day on the hill. The federal government was very responsive to meetings with Paramedic Leaders across the country. We participated in over twenty-seven meetings with Ministers, Members of Parliament, and key Committee Chairs.
We had three key messages to convey to the government:
1. Caring for the Front-line
Canada’s paramedics play a frontline role in maintaining the health and safety of communities across the country. Everyday, they are exposed to psychological stress and traumatic events that take a serious toll on their mental health. During the pandemic, these stresses and strains have only increased. On top of that, incidents of violence against paramedics are at an all-time high.
Requests:
- Support for ongoing research into the impact of job-related stresses on the health of paramedic
- Legislative protection for paramedics with increased punishment for threats and violence directed at them in the performance of their duties
- Implementation of the recommendations from 2019 Health Committee Report on Violence Facing Healthcare Workers in Canada.
2. Relieving the Pressure
Healthcare in Canada is under significant and increasing strain. COVID-19, RSV and very bad flu season has pushed our entire system to the brink. For paramedics, this has meant longer response times, unacceptable off-load delays and threats to patient safety. Like other health professions, paramedicine also faces challenges with retention and recruitment – which places addition pressure on our current resources. As well, the pandemic exposed the fragility of supply chain for essential life-saving equipment.
Requests:
- Development of a an-Canadian strategy for Health Human Resources
- Examine faster inter-provincial recognition and certification of paramedics
- Provide incentives to Paramedics willing to work in rural and remote communities
- Prioritize first-responder supply-chain needs as part of public safety and emergency preparedness
3. Expanding Patient Care
During the pandemic, governments broadened the delivery of healthcare to include an increased focus on public health, prevention, integration, and improved access. Paramedics across the countries stepped up and staffed pop-up vaccination clinics, as well as providing non-urgent health services. Paramedics have the training, skill, and ability to offer more than emergency care. We can improve health care delivery in all communities across Canada.
Requests:
- Greater federal investment in Community Paramedicine initiatives
- Encourage provinces and hospitals to use Paramedics to the full scope of their practice
- Employ Community Paramedics in Indigenous communities in rural and remote parts of Canada
Our meetings with government were a resounding success . Many government officials expressed that Paramedics need to be part of health roundtables to be part of consultation and decision making on health policies. In addition, there was clear support for the mental health and well-being of Paramedics, and concern that violence against Paramedics has not received the traction it should. The PCC will be following up with communiques back to the Ministers and MPs to ensure that our requests remain a priority for the federal government.
For additional information, please click here for a link to our one-page requests:
PCCAdvocacydayOne-Pagers-–-Bilingual.pdf
We look forward to updating you as these conversations continue.
Regards,
Kelly Nash
Executive Director
Paramedic Chiefs of Canada (PCC)