Ottawa paramedic union sounds alarm about high stress levels, low morale
It is an incredibly difficult time to be an Ottawa paramedic, the union representing them says. Stress levels are high, morale is low.
The service reached ‘Level Zero’ hundreds of times in 2021, meaning in those moments there was a critical shortage of ambulances available.
Staff shortages, increased workload and the fear of catching COVID are all taking their toll.
“We have heard loud and clear from the CUPE 503 paramedic services group, that morale has plummeted and stress levels are through the roof,” says Carrie Lynn Poole-Cotnam, Treasurer at CUPE 503, the union that represents Ottawa paramedics.
“Our members feel that they are not able to meet the needs of the residents of Ottawa. And that there is little hope that their issues, when it comes to working conditions and resolving these systemic issues for the service, is possible.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Matthew Luloff sent a letter to Ontario’s health minister asking for help with Ottawa’s health care system and staff shortages.
“These are incredible hard working people. And they’re there for us at such a critical moment,” Luloff said. “The chronically underfunded healthcare system has had a significant impact on our staff, and a significant impact on our service. Which again, in turn, in this awful feedback loop, has an impact on our staff.”
What’s called “offloading” is time-consuming. When paramedics bring a patient to the hospital, they have to wait until that patient is seen by hospital staff, sometimes for hours, before moving on to the next call.
“When there’s a backlog or when there are no nurses available to do that transfer or exchange of the patient, that’s why our members have to continue to maintain the care of that patient,” Poole-Cotnam said.
Luloff is asking the province to fund and hire new nursing and doctor positions, saying hospitals have done their part by adding space and extra beds, but there is no one to staff them.
“Paramedics are out there every single day, working their butts off, and they’re taking care of patients at the hospital as well,” he said. “This is not a problem with the Ottawa paramedic service. These are incredibly dedicated and hard-working people. And they are getting burnt out by this.”
“It has escalated to the point where if you drive by the Civic Hospital on any given day, there may be 10 paramedic ambulances sitting waiting for that patient exchange to take place,” Poole-Cotnam said.
The union says the province has to act now before more paramedics are driven out of the field.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.