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By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

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Some community leaders say they have concerns about the number of ambulances deployed in rural areas.

Minto Mayor Eric Barnett and Chipman Mayor Ed Farris say many residents believe the region had better ambulance coverage before the provincial system came online in December 2007.

Barnett said that's because the number of ambulances tasked with covering those communities has been drastically cut since the takeover - dropping from five ambulances to two.

He said the coverage is too thin and a major incident could overwhelm existing resources.

"Think about the other day when we had a bad accident where that young man tragically lost his life - there were three injuries and they brought another ambulance in," he said.

"The whole area was left unprotected (while they took them to the hospital). If someone would have taken a heart attack (in the meantime), there could have been trouble."

Barnett said he understands the need for fiscal restraint, but it shouldn't impact essential services.

"The biggest worry the provincial government has is the cost," he said.

"Well, it shouldn't matter what it might cost - you're saving lives here. It always seems to be rural New Brunswick that gets hit the hardest."

Farris said they've repeatedly raised these concerns with the provincial government and it doesn't seem like the situation has improved.

"We still haven't got enough coverage, as far as we're concerned," he said. "We'd like to have one more (ambulance stationed) between the two communities."

Farris said the mayors plan to bring these concerns to Health Minister Mary Schryer.

"Both villages are waiting for the new (health) minister. We're going to have a meeting with her to discuss a number of items, this included," he said.

He said he's not certain when the meeting will happen.

Richard Brady, the investigator from the Ontario Ministry of Health who conducted an independent review of Ambulance NB, discovered that a shortage of paramedics was impacting the system's ability to maintain its response-time

goals in both rural and urban areas.

The report also cited high numbers of non-emergency patient transfers as another challenge.

Brady suggested that Ambulance NB "review the system status plan, including the placement of ambulances mandated by the plan."

Ralph McBride, co-ordinator for paramedics' union CUPE Local 4848, said he understands why many rural areas in New Brunswick are concerned.

"Those small communities, like Minto and Chipman, (often) lose their (ambulance) to other calls," he said. "That's the way the system is set up to work, in a dynamic deployment. That's one of the pitfalls. Areas with low call volumes will suffer as those ambulances are (occasionally) moved closer to assist with busier areas."

He said he thinks Ambulance NB is taking these concerns seriously, but there's more work to be done.

"I think they're starting to make a little bit of headway and they're not moving (ambulances around) as quickly," he said.

"I haven't heard as many complaints from the guys and girls in the field."