New Brunswick to scrap fees for ambulance services

[five_alarm]

FREDERICTON, NB - New Brunswickers won't have to pay user fees for emergency ambulance services starting next spring. Premier Bernard Lord announced the elimination of the fee Wednesday during a speech in the legislature to close debate on his government's speech from the throne. When the fee is eliminated on April 1, 2005, New Brunswick will become the only province in Canada that doesn't charge patients for emergency ambulance services. "Since we believe in the universality of the health-care system, that ambulance fee should not be a barrier," Mr. Lord said. Currently, the province collects about $3.2 million annually in ambulance fees. Users pay $120 for ambulance service unless they live in Westfield, McAdam or St. Martins. Those areas are served by a volunteer ambulance service, where the fee is $60. "We are eliminating these fees for ambulance service in recognition of the important role that ambulance service plays in the care process and to make it more affordable and accessible for all New Brunswickers," Mr. Lord told the legislature.

Source: canadaeast.com (http://www.firehall.com/refer.php?url=http://canadaeast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041216/TSEBRIEF/312160061/-1/FRONTPAGE&linkid=1228&parent=news(headlines)&)

[five_alarm]

MONCTON, NB - Emergency workers in New Brunswick say there's a lot of confusion surrounding government plans to do away with ambulance fees on April 1. The government is running ads promoting free ambulance service for emergency calls.

But ambulance personnel, paramedics and first responders say the guidelines aren't clear enough. And they're worried some people may take advantage of the system.

Source: nb.cbc.ca (http://nb.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nb-ambulance20050329&ref=rss)

[FFWannabe]

Hunh, someone might abuse an ambulance system... nooo, no one would ever do that! It's never been abused before, why would it be abused now?

Sue :rolleyes:

[FLASHOVER05]

Hello Taxi.... Ya I would Like an Ambulance to my House, Why you say... Well....

Sounds to gimmicky.......

[BCFFFV]

Hey don't laugh.....we routinely went to a guy's house for medical problems. Sometimes he would be sitting in a taxi waiting to go to the emergency ward. Our fire engine and the ambulance would show up and he would get out of the taxi and into the ambulance leaving the poor taxi driver out of luck.

[FLASHOVER05]

That poor taxi... He is just trying to get a fare.... ;.< tear,tear (sarcasm)

[five_alarm]

RIVERVIEW, NB - Ambulance drivers say they're getting a lot more unnecessary calls now that people can get a free ride to the nearest hospital. The Lord government eliminated ambulance fees three months ago in an effort to improve access to the health care system. Since the change went into effect, the number of ambulance calls has risen by 21 per cent.

Ambulance staff are reluctant to talk about the issue on the record. But they'll admit they've responded to a growing number of questionable "emergencies."

Some of the clients have been under the impression that if they arrive at the hospital in an ambulance, they'll jump to the front of the line in the emergency room, even if their medical problem isn't very serious.

Source: nb.cbc.ca (http://nb.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nb-ambulance20050622)

[FFWannabe]

You know what really surprised me the most? Seeing the large signs telling people the ambulance service is going to be free of charge... LARGE SIGNS!!! EVERYWHERE!!! It's no wonder the ridership... err.. calls have gone up!

Sue :confused:

[dentedhead]

Hey don't laugh.....we routinely went to a guy's house for medical problems. Sometimes he would be sitting in a taxi waiting to go to the emergency ward. Our fire engine and the ambulance would show up and he would get out of the taxi and into the ambulance leaving the poor taxi driver out of luck.

Another phrase if I had a nickel for.... " I was going to call a cab but my cheque didnt come yet" The abuse of ambulance services is absolutly staggering.When you see it first hand it will really open your eyes.Its compounded by the fact that in Ontario the govt pays for those on welfare of any type.

The fee is only sumpin like $45.not zactly a kings ransom.

Dentedhead

[Buckster]

I'm in NB. This actually came into effect on April 1st.....in March I had a chat with Chief Doug Hamerof Riverview, and he said there had been calls going into 911 just asking "are the ambulances free yet?"......when they were told no, they would hang up. My dept runs first responders, and are normally toned out only for hot calls....but it seems lately we are getting more "not feeling well" calls......having affordable transportation for emergencies is one thing, but a free taxi to town is another...but when the tones go off, you gotta go. I also think the 21% increase in call volume is a little low.

[FFWannabe]

How do these people get home?!?

Sue :confused:

[Buckster]

Call in an emergency at their home and ride the bumper? LOL Who knows

[FFWannabe]

Call in an emergency at their home and ride the bumper? LOL Who knows

Lol Buckster... "Hi 911, I'm at the hospital and my cat's joking, can you send an ambulance.... errrr... from the hospital?"

Sue :rolleyes:

[Buckster]

No doubt.......and yeah, I've seen the billboards too......isn't that just ASKING for trouble? "Its FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALLLLLLLLLLLL ABOARRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDDD"

[dentedhead]

How do these people get home?!?

Sue :confused:

The hospital sends them home with a.......taxi chit.Paid for by guess who?

Dentedhead

[FFWannabe]

The hospital sends them home with a.......taxi chit.Paid for by guess who?

Dentedhead

You're kidding???!!?? Sheeesh... that all adds up to a lot of money, imagine what could be done with that? Sigh

Sue :(

[dentedhead]

You're kidding???!!?? Sheeesh... that all adds up to a lot of money, imagine what could be done with that? Sigh

Sue :(

Sue I wish I was kidding.The shame of it is these people know and EXPECT this Tx after being seen for the 2nd or 3rd visit for the same ailment/drug seeking expedition sometimes in the same week.

I have done calls for people who still had daisy stains from their most recent abdo pain visit.In TO I liked to call it hospital shopping.Not happy at what hospital A said/did call 911 request transport to hospital B and so on repeat as needed.This would happen in the same day in some cases.

Dentedhead
P.S FYI daisy stain is a dentedhead term for the retained adhesive and the dirt that has collected on said adhesive where the cardiac monitor electrodes had been placed.

[JoJobrat]

DH: even I recognised what you were talking about without the P.S.! This is a stupid cituation that is caused I believe by idiots wanting recognition in politics. Am I wrong?

JoJo

[FFWannabe]

JoJo, it seems that everything that has to do with Emergency services that is not decided by Emergency services is politically motivated.
I tell ya', the last place you want to be on a hot day is the emerg... full of people with "ailments" or shall we say afflicted with "it's too hot and I don't have air conditioning"! Grrrrr... then there's the ones with the sore back, the sore neck, the headache or the toothache... you've got to be kidding.. there are walk in clinics all over the city and they end up at Emerg!!!

Okay, there I go again! lol

Sue :)

[MFDFF33]

. I also think the 21% increase in call volume is a little low.

I hear you there Buckster, I respond to just outside of Saint John (Musquash) and We had an increase in the calls that we normally wouldn't go to because the ambulance isn't available. And it seems like almost every time I'm out there the ambulance is going.

[five_alarm]

RIVERVIEW, NB - More people are using ambulances for non-emergency situations ever since the province dropped ambulance fees last April, said Riverview's fire chief. Chief Doug Hammer is concerned a 25 per cent increase in non-emergency calls could stretch ambulance services too thin, and delay paramedics from responding to true emergencies.

Last April, the Health Department abolished fees of $120 for ambulance services in an effort to improve access to the health-are system. A spokesman said it expected the number of calls would go up. In June, Health Minister Elvy Robichaud said she believed most of the new calls were coming from seniors, who had avoided calling ambulances in the past because they couldn't afford them.

Source: cbc.ca (http://www.cbc.ca/nb/story/nb-ambulance21112005.html?ref=rss)