Ambulance money liked AN EXTRA $30 million for ambulance service will help a system hard-pressed by a growing demand, says the president of its central union. And the money will be needed as hospitals shift services, bringing about the need for more patient transfers, says Barry O’Neill of the Canadian -Union of Public Employ- ces. He was reacting to the announcement by health services minister Colin Hansen that the B.C. Am- bulance Service is getting more money. “We're still not clear as to where all of it will*be used,” said O'Neill of the $30 million, “but we're very pleased it is addition- al:money. There’s been a shortage for some time.” One definite plan O'Neill knows about is to provide more training for rural paramedics. He forecasts that kind of training will come in handy as hospitals in Kiti- mat and Hazelton go through bed closures while the number of beds in Ter- race will increase. Closures in those com- munities and more beds in . Terrace. will put more people in need of ambu- lance transfers between ci- ties, O'Neill said. “We just hope it doesn’t become a case of ‘no car, no health’” said O'Neill. -The ambulance service does offer a transfer ser- vice but it is important for all paramedics, regardless of what they do, to be trained to the same level, he added. That’s particularly im- portant up north and in more isolated spots where there are significant dis- tances between health carg, facilities on here's, vr reason’ they call: paramedics street docs. It has to do with their training,” he said. O’Neill compared the situation to people having the highest rated driver's licence even though they may only be asked to drive a small car. In making the $30 mi- lion announcement, health services minister Colin Hansen said 1,300 para- medics will go through in- creased medical training this year. He forecast a service where highly trained people can safely transport people who are in need of -either trauma or intensive care. That’s expected to be- come crucial as some hos- Rinsma guilty of sexual assault A LOCAL man was found guilty in a Terrace court- room May 1 of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Patrick Joseph Rinsma, 33, will be sentenced for his crime July 5 — until then he remains in custody at the Prince George Cor- rection Centre. ' The guilty verdict by Supreme Court Justice Doug Halfyard stems from an incident which ocurred May 23, 2001 at Rinsma’s trailer. “He had also been ' charged with one count of forcible confinement and two counts of assault but was not found guilty of those charges. Rinsma was incarcera- ted immediately after the incident took place and has been in jail ever since. EPILEPSY = CANADA 4-514-845-7855 1-877-SEIZURE www. epllepsy.ca Barry O'Neill pital’s take on a role as a centralized service provi- der. The $30 million comes in two parts, $20 million from the province and $10 million from regional health care authorities gobi nic Lia Home sooner is plan for patients sent south TERRACE PATIENTS undergoing specialist treatment in Vancouver may return home quicker than before in light of new. money given to the B.C, Ambulance Service. A $30 million boost from the pro- vincial government recently means pa- lients fit to recover from procedures in their originating hospitals will be transferred home within 24 hours of the doctor's release order, said B.C. Am- bulance Service official Bob Pearce. Beforehand, the ambulance service had up to five days to transfer a patient after the physician’s permission was given, Pearce said. “It’s good for patients and it’s good for patient care because they'll have support around them,” Pearce said of patients returning to their hame hospi- tals to recuperate. The speedier transfers will also free up much needed beds in Vancouver hospitals. Pearce said the provincial money will also go loward increased training for paramedics. “The most notable thing that you'll see is that paramedics will be able to continue their upgrading to the Para- medic One standard,” he said. That training level is a nationally recognized standard for basic parame- dic care. “With increased medical knowledge they are going to be able to make better treatment decisions,” Pearce said about the. training. He said the upgrading will especial- ly benefit part time paramedics, Ter- race has 20 part time paramedics, in addition to four full time ones, and most have already started the new training, said Terrace’s ambulance unit chief Carl Wassink. Bob Pearce added some of fhe pro- vincial money will be used to help cover the extra costs expected from the restructuring of health care deliv- ery in the lower mainland. Some facililies there have been closed which means increased call vo- lume, more patients expected to be transferred between hospitals and long- er call durations, Pearce said. 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