STANLEY BRIDGE, P.E.I. — Paramedics and dispatchers from across the Maritimes will meet for their annual conference Sept. 18 in Stanley Bridge.
This will be the second annual Maritime Paramedic/dispatcher Labour Union Conference. The conference will be hosted by CUPE Local 3324. Ambulance services in P.E.I., New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are operated by Medavie.
Each province will be given the opportunity to present on issues paramedics and dispatchers are facing in their areas, followed by a roundtable on the issues discussed.
Planned topics include offload delays, half-staffed and out-of-service ambulances, inherent overtime caused by these delays, missed meals, paramedic burnout, low morale and more.
“Staffing shortages, off-load delays and equipment resources continue to be a constant concern affecting employee morale and public safety so we expect these issues will be the focal point of the conference,’’ said Jason Woodbury, president of CUPE Local 3324.