Barrhead will be getting a new ambulance station as part of plans to improve the town’s emergency service.
Associated Ambulance, the town’s new ambulance service provider, has already started looking for a site.
Chief executive officer Terry Schueler said last week a new station would be built if a suitable building could not be found. Currently, the ambulance service and fire department share the emergency response centre in the industrial park.
“Simply, we need more space to be able to operate, from our perspective, a service appropriate for the community,” he said.
Schueler said Barrhead had outgrown the current station, which was not big enough for a back-up ambulance needed when frontline vehicles were out of action. A new station would also provide proper facilities for staff, including a kitchen.
“We are working with the town of Barrhead towards getting a different station,” said Schueler. “Once we have found a site, we hope to have the station completed within a calendar year.”
Associated Ambulance, which has signed a contract with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to run Barrhead’s service, has taken two more immediate improvement measures, said Schueler.
This week Barrhead was expected to take delivery of a Ford E450 ALS (Advanced Life Support) ambulance. Cardiac monitors had also been upgraded from Life Pak 12 to 15.
Together the improvements cost about $60,000, said Schueler.
“Our goal is to improve and enhance the service for Barrhead,” he added.
Associated Ambulance, which has a base in Mayerthorpe, started running the Barrhead service on April 1, after the town council divested itself of the responsibility.
In August 2011, the town began that process when it sent a letter to AHS, saying it would be ending its ambulance contract on April 1, 2012.
The decision fit into AHS’s strategy for the province to take over ambulance contracts across Alberta.
Schueler said Associated Ambulance had also taken on responsibility for ambulance services in Westlock, Rocky Mountain House, Silver Lake, Ma-Me-O Beach, Hinton and Edson.
This was in addition to services it already operates in such communities as Mayerthorpe, Athabasca, Boyle, Whitecourt, Drayton Valley, Lac La Biche and Thorhild, among others.
At its March 26 meeting, Barrhead town council approved an offer from Associated Ambulance to buy two fully equipped ambulances and other EMS items from the council for $59,000.
Associated Ambulance will lease the ambulance bay near the Barrhead RCMP offices from the town while it looks for another station.
Town councillors saluted ambulance staff in advance of the transition, praising them for a “fantastic” service. Later mayor Brian Schulz paid tribute to director of ambulance services Trevor Trefanenko, who is losing his job under the new arrangement.
Schueler last week gave assurances that Associated Ambulance would maintain existing personnel. He also pledged to give priority to local recruitment, as well as buying supplies and carrying out repairs in Barrhead.
“We always support the local community as much as possible,” said.
Schueler said the only changes people in Barrhead would see would be a new crest on paramedics’ uniform and on vehicles.
The service would continue to have two frontline ambulances and a back-up ambulance.
