B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake says more cash for emergency health is justified

October 28, 2016 - 8:14 AM

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - British Columbia's health minister says nine new ambulances have been added to the Greater Vancouver fleet.

But Terry Lake says the B.C. Emergency Health Services plan calls for more resources.

He says along with more vehicles, more paramedics are needed to serve growing populations.

Lake believes an entirely different way of handling emergency health may also be required, with revisions to allocation and dispatching of calls.

He's also interested in the possibility of paramedics being permitted to treat and release patients, rather than transporting them to hospital.

He says those changes will cost about $35-million annually, but believes the expense is justified. (CHNL)

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016

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