Grandview’s EMS building is still expected to close, as part of the province’s 10-year plan to overhaul the system.
Even after the community tried to save it, Premier Brian Pallister says the plan is still going forward.
“The reorganization of those stations is a tricky bit."
"Every community wants to keep it, and that’s natural. I’m the first premiere in 60 years that knows rural Manitoba real well, I mean I grew up south west of Portage la Prairie. I understand the challenges in living in rural Manitoba, and I understand the benefits too. One thing I know for sure is that most of us are real common sense people, we understand we can’t have everything in every town.”
Pallister says the plan they put forward will make the system better for everyone.
“We’re investing in dozens of skilled paramedics so that we can have a skilled person be there. Somebody gets caught in the PTO on the farm, somebody has a car accident and flips in the ditch, they don’t know where the ambulance stays they want the person to them as soon as they can get them. They want a qualified person to take care of them and stabilize them so they can get better.”
The plan calls for Grandview and surrounding region to be serviced by EMS in Gilbert Plains.
“We can’t have an MRI in Roblin, that would be nice, but we can’t. Can’t have stations in every town. So, I’ll just be the guy who says that. I think we have to do better with what we have. I think what most people want who live in Grandview, Gilbert, Roblin, that area, is if there is an accident on their farm they want somebody there who can look after them really quick.”
The plan calls for 23 low-volume ambulance garages to close, others to move and five new stations are being built.
