BC Ambulance Paramedics are raising alarms about a likely rise in hospital diversions.
As contract talks with the province continue, the union warns that with winter approaching, British Columbians should expect more ER closures.
Officials say members are under heavy pressure during these diversions, with over 250 hospital and ER closures reported this year alone.
Paramedics are filling widening gaps in the system and often end up as the only accessible healthcare providers, especially during severe weather, long transport dispatches, and record call volumes.
Jackson urges people to be prepared for winter storms, holiday traffic, and rising demand for medical services: know your nearest ER, check weather conditions, and expect longer transport times.
In negotiations since mid-September, the union is calling on the government to better support paramedics, saying closures make it harder to keep communities covered despite their best efforts.
-With files from M. Popove CJDC