A7

By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

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About 82 new paramedics are expected to bring some relief to the provincial ambulance system over the next few weeks.

The Atlantic Paramedic Academy presented diplomas to 70 graduates at the end of June, and a dozen more students are expected to complete the program within a month.

Many graduates have already accepted positions, but they'll have to pass the provincial licensing exam and complete an orientation session with Ambulance NB before beginning their careers.

The prospective paramedics will be able to write the exam Wednesday. Ambulance NB will hold an orientation session by the middle of the month.

Sandy MacQuarrie, program director for the Atlantic Paramedic Academy, said the new recruits will help take some pressure off existing paramedics.

He said paramedics have been working a lot of overtime since the provincial system came online in December 2007.

"The paramedics who are already in the system will finally get some time off. Think of the break that they'll get and how much it'll mean to recharge (their batteries)," he said.

"(The graduates are) bringing the same skill set that the existing practitioners have - their knowledge will be fresher, but their experience is less. I think they'll come into that system and give the folks a much-deserved break."

MacQuarrie said the overtime has been necessary because the province has been short so many paramedics.

"Money is money, but it takes its toll after a time," he said.

"The paramedics have been doing a great job so far, and now we've got some help for them."

He said Ambulance NB seems to have slated many new graduates for positions in smaller communities around the province.

"They're taking our graduates and they're placing them where they feel they need them," he said.

"I think it's true that it will help many rural areas, and that's where they needed help."

Fredericton Junction Mayor Gary Mersereau said many rural areas have been concerned about coverage, but he thinks things have gotten better since the release of a third-party investigation of Ambulance NB.

Former Health minister Mike Murphy ordered a review of the system's performance after an emergency call to a Fredericton Junction home that saw paramedics delayed nearly an hour because of road closures.

Mersereau said the provincial ambulance system has taken steps to ensure that it won't happen again.

"We've seen a bit of an improvement. They don't seem to be doing as many (non-emergency patient) transfers," he said.

"Obviously, more resources would result in a better service. Hopefully (that's the case)."

Another 16 paramedics are expected to graduate in October.