The medical dispatchers union in Nova Scotia has expressed concerns about delays in ambulance responses to emergency calls, citing a recent incident in Halifax where paramedics arrived 40 minutes after urgent calls were made by the police. The union attributes these delays to insufficient staffing, inadequate training, and the use of outdated maps in the new dispatch system.
According to Jeff Callaghan, the national director of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers representing Nova Scotia medical dispatchers, such incidents are not uncommon and occur frequently. The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) report detailed a specific case on February 22 in Halifax’s Fairview neighborhood, where a man in a mental health crisis did not receive timely medical assistance despite multiple calls from the police.
The report highlighted communication challenges between police and Emergency Health Services (EHS) dispatch systems, exacerbated by a new dispatch system with an artificial intelligence component. Callaghan acknowledged staffing shortages in the communications center, leading to call stacking and delays in dispatching ambulances.
The introduction of the new dispatch system in January 2025 raised concerns among staff due to the use of outdated maps, causing difficulties in locating addresses and delays in reaching the correct destinations. Despite claims from Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) that the maps are regularly updated, issues persist in locating addresses accurately.
Kevin MacMullin, business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 727 representing Nova Scotia paramedics, echoed concerns about delays in ambulance dispatches due to staffing issues and high call volumes. He emphasized the need for seamless communication between police and EHS dispatch systems to improve response times.
EMC, responsible for managing ambulance services in Nova Scotia, stated its commitment to enhancing communication and response processes following the SIRT report’s findings. The company also mentioned the hiring of over 120 personnel since January to address staffing concerns.
The incident has raised calls for further investigation and improvements in the emergency response system to prevent similar delays in the future.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/it-happens-all-too-frequently-says-medical-dispatchers-union-of-delayed-response-times-9.6946588)