Strike not related to man's death: EMS Chief

[attach]515[/attach]Assurances that the current labour disruption had nothing to do with the death of a 59-year-old man were plenty at a July 14 press conference.

Striking EMS workers have come under fire after a reported four 911 calls and 45 minutes paramedics responded, resulting in a fatal heart attack for Jim Hearst.

EMS Chief Bruce Farr assured the public that Hearst’s death is not a result of the current labour disruption as paramedics are required to follow a 75 percent staffing quota under an essential services agreement.

“Toronto EMS has very strict protocols in place and these protocols in this case were followed,” he said. “Again I want to assure Torontonians that in a medical emergency they can be confident in dialing 911.

“Toronto EMS will respond and provide emergency medical service to those in need.”

Paramedics and dispatchers from CUPE locals 416 and 79 are only on picket lines when they are off-duty. However, those on duty were wearing t-shirts until EMS and paramedics agreed at an Ontario Labour Relations Board to wear the standard-issue uniform on July 14.

Although paramedics can still wear hats, buttons or stickers to show their support for the strike, CUPE spokesperson Pat Daley told the Town Crier July 16.

“I’m not sure what they are going to do, but they’re allowed to (accessorize) I believe,” she said.

The city said ambulance services are maintaining their essential services during the labour disruption.

“We have enough paramedics in place to respond to emergency medical calls,” spokesperson Rob Andrusevich said. “In non-life threatening situations it may take a little longer to get an ambulance there, but they will get one.”

Daley agreed.

“We are complying with the essential services agreement,” she said.

Farr said an investigation into the death of Hearst is ongoing, and he attributed the death of the Yonge and Wellesley area resident to a possible miscommunication between dispatchers and paramedics as well as health and safety concerns during the initial calls.

“From time-to-time in the communication of this kind of detailed information … sometimes things can get misunderstood whether it’s language or any other information,” he said, not elaborating on what the safety concerns were. “Again in fairness we need to look at the whole thing.”

Still, he stressed his optimism the ambulance service is running strong.

“Whether it’s during the labour disruption or before, I’m very comfortable with our response times to life-threatening calls,” he said.