By Andru McCracken
The Province announced more ground and air ambulances throughout the province on Monday April 20.
“Building this additional capacity will ensure our frontline response, to any patient who needs us, will remain both effective and agile during this unprecedented global medical emergency,” said BC Emergency Health Services Communications Officer Shannon Miller.
“The demands of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will largely determine where resources will be placed, with a focus on rural, remote and Indigenous communities,” said Miller.
“COVID-19 is a virus that can move extremely quickly and cause a serious decline in health,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This presents real challenges for rural, remote and
Indigenous communities, for whom access to critical care may not always be close to home. We’re working with our partners to make sure people can access the health care they need, no matter where they live in the province.”
As part of this initiative, BC Emergency Health Services has added six ambulances serving the Northern Health Authority (which includes Valemount and McBride). In addition, BCEHS has prepared seven fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for medical transport.
