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By Victor Kaisar

Ambulance Staffing Issues

B.C. paramedics union warns new overtime ban leading to ‘critical’ staffing levels

Jan 18, 2025 | 10:45 AM

RICHMOND B.C. — The union that represents ambulance paramedics across British Columbia says a ban on overtime work will likely mean that a “significant” number of ambulances in the province will be sitting empty this weekend.

In a news release Friday (Jan. 17), the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE 873) says BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) brought in overtime bans on Jan. 1 to cut costs because of a “significant budget deficit.”

The union says the decision to not schedule overtime in advance is affecting response times in British Columbia.

“Our members are reporting dozens and dozens of ambulances across the province sitting empty when they show up to work, and it’s not getting any better” CUPE 873 president Jason Jackson said. “We’ve tried to engage with BCEHS, PHSA [Provincial Health Services Authority] and the government, and they still seem hesitant to admit we are reaching critical staffing levels again.”

“We know we have hundreds of open and unfilled positions in the province. These are predictable vacancies that can be staffed well in advance. There is just no reason to wait to the last minute to start calling people to come in.”

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In the statement, the union says that on a typical day, a quarter of all ambulances in B.C. are empty as “BCEHS refuses to schedule overtime in advance.” The “sub-optimal” staffing level, it says, means longer wait times for everyone.

“Our low acuity calls are waiting longer than ever, and BCEHS’ deployment changes are hurting patients,” Jackson added.

“We’re hearing that patients are sitting for hours on the floor, or with first responders when they need to be transported to hospital by paramedics immediately. Now is not the time to cut front line services.”

The union, which represent the nearly 6,000 dispatchers and paramedics in British Columbia, say BCEHS, PHSA and the government have “refused” to change their overtime ban policy, even after concerns were brought to them about patients waiting.

“We’re issuing this warning to the public that when you call 911, and if it’s not critical, you will undoubtedly be waiting for an ambulance, and it could be a long time,” Jackson said.

CKPG has reached out to BCEHS and PHSA for comment and will update this story if more information is known.