QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today called on the Liberal government to allow Six Nations emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to perform procedures for which they are fully trained, but which obscure government directives prevent them from administering.
During Question Period today, Horwath accused the Ministry of Health of setting health policies that have no logical purpose and, in the case of Six Nations residents, actually pose a serious health threat.
She asked Health Minister Deb Mathews to explain why paramedics working in Six Nations have a different scope of practice than in every other community in Ontario.
“Six Nations paramedic services have been finally upgraded to Advanced Care yet the Ministry of Health is not allowing Six Nations’ EMS to administer procedures for which they are trained,” she said.
Horwath explained that Six Nations EMS workers are not permitted to administer a series of cardiac and airway interventions – interventions that could be lifesaving – even though they are fully trained and can use their training in every other community in which they work.
“This is causing grave concern among Six Nations residents who worry about the treatment available to them,” she said, adding that it the McGuinty government needs to rectify the situation immediately.
“The government must take all the necessary steps to guarantee full EMS service on Six Nations.”
