Paramedics strike ended as flu spreads

Tom Fletcher - BC Local News Published: November 02, 2009 2:00 PM

VICTORIA – The B.C. government is legislating an end to the long-running paramedics strike as it braces for the full impact of H1N1 influenza and the coming Christmas holiday season. Health Minister Kevin Falcon said Monday that despite an essential services order that requires full ambulance service, the strike is affecting patient care. "In the Lower Mainland, the number of ambulances out of service each month has jumped to 150, compared to just 12 per month before the strike began," Falcon said. "With the rest of our health care system already operating at full capacity to manage the impact of H1N1, we can't afford to have the ambulance service operating at less than peak effectiveness." The move comes as public health officials struggle with lineups at H1N1 vaccination clinics and the virus spreading among health care workers. Last week as many as one out of four staff at BC Women's Hospital were off sick. (More)