Delta mayor shares paramedics’ concern regarding ER closure

Provincial paramedics, who sounded the alarm on ER closure earlier this week, have received support from Delta’s mayor.

George Harvie says he shares the concern of the paramedics about the ongoing, temporary closure of emergency room departments around the province.

“Residents are very worried with regards to having the ability to go to the emergency room when it’s necessary,” he told 1130 NewsRadio.

“We are also very worried with regards to the ambulance times. Delta for urgent calls, life-threatening calls, has the highest response time in Metro Vancouver.”

He argues that B.C.’s health care system is not working, and he thinks it will not be an easy fix.

“Because the current system is not working, it is broken, and I can not see it being repaired for decades. Terrible thing to say, but I just do not see any hope on the horizon,” he added.

However, Harvie has not given up quite yet, as his city has hired a consultant to find solutions for his community.

“What we need is the results of that consultant doing a very thorough analysis and good recommendations to Council to see if this would lead to a better, more supportive type of health response to people that need assistance and, most importantly, reduce the pressures on our emergency department.”

Harvie says that Delta’s ER has been closed four times this year, and he has been warned that there will be another closure in the coming days.

The union representing paramedics said there had been more than 250 temporary ER closures this year in the province alone.

With winter around the corner, the concern about ER closure is only increasing, the union adds.

With files from Sonia Aslam.