Fall program through Hecate Strait Employment Centre set to deliver paramedics to staffing vacancies

BC EHS Regional head Tom Soames provided an update on
the status of the local paramedic service as well as plans this month 
for local training to help alleviate some of the challenges 
(Photo from MLA Rice FB page)

Monday night's Town Hall on Health Care provided for some extensive review of current challenges found on the North Coast and Prince Rupert area, one of them, the current situation facing the Paramedic Service in the region.

The overview of that element of Monday night's presentation came from Tom Soames the Terrace based regional head of the EHS service in the Northwest. 

His commentary on the night highlighted some of the strains and challenges found in the region and Prince Rupert when it comes to the Paramedic service.

Of note was his overview as to how the NW is operating with 35 percent of its historical staff, along with a review of the current staffing levels at the Prince Rupert EHS station on Summit.

Towards addressing the need for additional paramedic staff, the path forward for a local recruitment program was outlined, with a partnership with Hecate Strait Business Development Society set to launch program created on the North Coast and already attracting some strong interest.

So far as the program has developed a recruitment list that covers a vast area from Haida Gwaii to the Hazelton for the upcoming course from September 12-29. 

With a full subscription and a waiting list already in place.

As Mr. Soames noted, the BC EHS is quite enthused about the local initiative which provides for a full overview of the profession and leads to certification and most importantly job placement almost immediately upon the course completion.

A look at his full presentation from Monday can be accessed from our notes of this week.

To find out more about the local program and to get on a wait list for future opportunities contact Hecate Strait at 240-624-9489 extension 2001 or send them a note by way of email at reception@hseds.ca

With luck, the homegrown initiative for the Prince Rupert area will develop the program further with ongoing recruitment to help reduce the strain on emergency services across the Northwest.

More notes on health theme in the Prince Rupert region can be reviewed through our archive page.

For updates on the work of Emergency Responders across the Northwest see our archive page here.