Ambulance and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) response in Alberta continues to make headlines as municipalities across the province face ambulances being dropped from schedule due to short-staffing issues, or not having an ambulance available in the community to respond to emergencies.
According to the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) EMS Facebook page, which reports known ambulance issues across the province, there were a total of 11 instances that affected ambulatory services in Drumheller between April 30 and June 2.
This included six ambulances dropped from the schedule due to staffing shortages, two instances where ambulances were downgraded from Advanced Life Support to Basic Life Support, and two Red Alerts where no ambulances were available locally within Drumheller to respond to emergencies.
During one of these Red Alerts, an ambulance from Hanna-53 minutes away-was called to attend an emergency in the Drumheller area.
During the same period (April 30 to June 2) Three Hills saw ambulances dropped from schedule due to short staffing issues twice, as well as two instances of ambulances being downgraded from Advanced Life Support to Basic Life Support; Linden also saw six instances of ambulances being dropped from schedule for short staffing issues, one downgrade, and on May 26 an ambulance from Linden was absent from the area for 13 hours to respond to calls from other jurisdictions.
Recently in Calgary, firefighters transported an injured three-year-old to hospital due to ambulance wait times and Health Quality Council of Alberta is also reviewing EMS response after a Calgary senior citizen waited 30 minutes for an ambulance following a dog attack; the 86-year-old woman later died in hospital of her injuries.
Under the Medical First Response (MFR) program, fire departments play a critical role in patient care prior to hospital transportation. Drumheller, Rosedale, and East Coulee fire departments are part of this MFR program.
Drumheller Fire Chief Bruce Wade says, while the department is aware when no ambulances are available, the number of medical calls they have attended so far this year are “about normal.”
He adds calls for lift assists and other EMS assists are also included in these counts.
However, while the departments in the Drumheller Valley have not seen an extraordinary increase in MFR calls, Fire Chief Wade says he cannot speak for the experience in rural communities in the surrounding counties.
The Mail reached out to EMS Central Zone Director of Operations Scott Holsworth for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.

Artists from the Drumheller Institution have put together an exhibition that will pay dividends in the community.
This month at the Western GM Gallery at the Badlands Community Facility, an exhibition of approximately 50 pieces are on display and for sale. The exhibition is called “A Community Behind Bars,” and is presented by the Drumheller Institution’s Indigenous Cultural Support Group and Cultural Centre.
“We’re really happy to have it here and to showcase all of their art,” said Indigenous Liaison Officer Kathy Koustrup. “It is a form of expression for them, and when they come to the Cultural Centre, it is like a safe haven for them, and they get to express themselves, it is a form of freedom.”
The work is diverse, with everything from painting and pencil drawing wall art, to beadwork, dream catchers, mixed media art, a tipi, and diversity mural.
These works were put together by about 15 artists serving at the Drumheller Institution and came together rather quickly. The works of art are for sale, and the proceeds go to the Drumheller Asset Development Coalition and the Drumheller Public Library.
Koustrup says the fact the work is going to support the community was a motivator for the artists.
“They asked me what it is going to, and I said ‘youth with addictions and mental health,’ and they said they would bring something down,” she said. ‘They are up for it, they grew up with it, and know Drumheller has really struggled with it … so they really wanted to help out.”
A Community Behind Bars is on display at the BCF until the end of July.