As part of Budget 2024, the Manitoba government is taking steps to improve emergency medical services by adding and training more paramedics, adding more ambulances and expanding emergency patient transport, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced on May 15.
"Our government is investing in paramedicine, so that Manitobans can feel secure knowing first responders will be there to assist in emergencies," said Asagwara. "We are also making sure timely emergency care is available to all Manitobans no matter where they live, which is why we are supporting new training spots for advanced care paramedics to work in rural and northern communities."
The province is providing an additional $124,000 to Red River College Polytechnic in 2024-25 to add 16 training seats for advanced care paramedics (ACPs) who will work in rural and northern communities.
The Manitoba government will incentivize more students to train as ACPs by investing more than $16 million to expand job opportunities including a third ambulance in Brandon. These investments will support the province's goal of hiring 1,000 new health-care workers in 2024-25.
"Advanced care paramedics are a huge asset to rural health care," said Rebecca Clifton, director, Paramedic Association of Manitoba. "With a deeper education and greater skill set, they can provide more acute care for patients, making them vital in critical transports or emergency rooms in remote, rural settings. For far too long, rural Manitoba just was not recognizing ACPs and enrolment suffered as a result. We are very happy to see the province invest in not only training but new positions as well, allowing paramedics to advance their education and improve care for Manitobans as a result."
Budget investments will allow for the implementation of community paramedicine units across eastern, western and northern parts of Manitoba, the minister noted, adding, 21 clinical service leaders have been hired since January 2024 in Dauphin, Flin Flon, Lac du Bonnet, Ashern, Neepawa and The Pas. More staff have been recruited and are in varying stages of onboarding, the minister said.
To celebrate the value paramedics brings to the health-care system, the Manitoba government has proclaimed May 19 to 25 as Paramedic Week in Manitoba.
"Because paramedics are often first on the scene, they are the first link in someone's health-care journey," said Asagwara. "Paramedics have saved the lives of countless Manitobans and helped put them on a path to recovery. Next week our government will recognize paramedics as the backbone of our emergency health services. It is our opportunity to thank them for the work they do to go above and beyond the call of duty."
The week is an opportunity to recognize all members of Manitoba's emergency response services teams, including 911 dispatchers, volunteer first responders and patient transport professionals.
