BlackburnNews.com file photo of a Chatham-Kent EMS ambulance. (Photo by Jason Viau)BlackburnNews.com file photo of a Chatham-Kent EMS ambulance. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Chatham

CK EMS Under Microscope Again

The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will be taking another look at its emergency medical services to determine who should be calling the shots.

Councillor Michael Bondy's motion to review the day-to-day management of EMS within Chatham-Kent was unanimously approved at Monday night's council meeting.

According to Bondy, the municipality agreed to a five-year contract with the health care provider Medavie in 2016. He adds that their fire department and EMS have since been combined to make Chatham-Kent Fire & Emergency Services.

Bondy says he has received many complaints from local residents and members of Chatham-Kent Fire and EMS about problems within the system. Bondy requests that managerial roles within the municipality's EMS be clearly defined.

He has previously told BlackburnNews.com that he fears the fire department is actually managing the ambulance service and the municipality is wasting tax dollars on a management firm that is not fulfilling their duties.

Many councillors at the meeting took the opportunity to voice their support of the motion, including Councillor Steve Pinsonneault who thinks council needs more clarity on how EMS is run in the community.

Councillor Derek Robertson, on the other hand, questioned whether it was really necessary to respond to every complaint received by residents.

Bondy says EMS management confusion has been an ongoing issue within the municipality and says there is no harm in looking into the situation.

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