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Increased grants approved for ambulance operators Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, today announced that $562,000 will be allocated to provide increases for provincial ambulance operators. The minister said every ambulance operator will receive an increase in their grants this year. In addition to their existing grants, 22 community-based operations which are primarily volunteer run, will receive grant increases of $3,000. Fifty of the private operator grants will be increased by $7,000 while eight private operator grants will be increased by $3,000. Four new grants will be awarded totalling $122,000. The difference in funding allotments for private operators depends on the volume of trips and the average distances travelled. The department was awaiting the results of a review of the private and community based ambulance services to determine how to best allocate the funding. The minister said the additional funding would help operators continue the provision of a valuable service for the people of the province. "I recognize the valuable contribution of ambulance operators, whether private, hospital, or community-based," said the minister. "I know negotiations were frustrating for some of the operators but we must be accountable for the allocation of public funding. This review provided us with some of the information we needed to put these new resources where they would do the most good. Another key component is a review of hospital-based ambulance services." The minister said a review of the hospital-based services should begin in the new fiscal year. The long term goal is to provide legislative provisions based on existing standards, established in 1995, governing ambulance services. Minister Aylward added that next year the department will enter into service agreements with operators in keeping with government's commitment to accountability under the provincial Strategic Social Plan. Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications,(709) 729-1377. 1998 12 17 4:25 p.m.
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