By Megan O’Toole
Telegraph-Journal
FREDERICTON, New Brunswick — The executive director of the provincial paramedics association says he has been unfairly targeted after voicing his concerns about Ambulance New Brunswick
On June 5, the Paramedic Association of New Brunswick issued a news release citing concerns over the new ambulance service’s response times, and Chris Hood spoke publicly on the issue. It was the latest in a series of allegations swirling around the province’s new unified service, also dogged by complaints over inadequate coverage.
On June 9, a letter was issued to Don Wilson, president of the paramedics association, from Rock Marois, president of ANB. The letter scolded Wilson over the news release, saying response times are not part of the association’s mandate. It mentioned Hood by name, saying he had been unco-operative in dealing with the service and referring to his “apparently self-proclaimed mandate to publicly undermine ANB and its employees.”
The letter also states that “unsubstantiated public statements made by employees of ANB raise other serious issues which will have to be dealt with in another forum.”
Then, on June 12, a letter was sent directly to Hood by Robin O’Hara, a regional manager with ANB, notifying him that the shifts he had been working were no longer allowable. The service’s standard schedule is for employees to work two day shifts, two night shifts, and four shifts off.
But with the system running on overtime as it awaits an injection of 100 new paramedics in the coming months, many have been working different hours, including 24- and 48-hour shifts. To accommodate his full-time day job with the association, Hood - who also holds a full-time position as a paramedic - had been trading off his day shifts for night shifts. In the letter, he is told he can no longer make those trades.
“Upon review of this type of arrangement the Company recognizes the total hours of work pose a safety concern to paramedics and our patients, as well as quality of patient care concerns,” the letter states. “We do not feel this is a responsible way to practice Paramedicine and will not support this by providing exemptions from operational practices that could promote this activity.”
The letter goes on to state that Ambulance New Brunswick will take “future measures” to eliminate the practice of having paramedics working full time for two or more employers, citing “safety and conflict of interest reasons.” It recommends that Hood consider a casual or part-time position with ANB if he wishes to keep his full-time job with the association.
Hood, who says he’s worked all night shifts since ANB took over six months ago, believes this is punishment for his public comments.
“They’re trying to put pressure on me, trying to make it difficult for me to work for them,” Hood said Tuesday, adding he would be filing a grievance with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “I surmise that’s because in my role with the paramedic association, I spoke out against response times.”
One other paramedic at Hood’s station was also sent a letter on shift trading, but Hood says that person got “caught in the crossfire,” noting he’s unaware of any other paramedics receiving a similar ultimatum. “To me, this is clear evidence they want to muzzle the paramedics out there, so they’re taking a shot at me, trying to force me out of the ambulance system.”
ANB spokesperson Isabelle Landry said communications of that nature had been sent to “more than one employee,” but she would not confirm whether more than two people had received it, saying it was an internal matter.
“If you have someone working two full-time jobs, paramedicine is a big job and requires a lot of focus and attention,” Landry said. “You need to be very quick in your reaction time.”
Health Minister Mike Murphy said he could not comment on personal work situations, but said on a general basis, ANB is ensuring paramedics are dedicated to their jobs.
Murphy denied any animosity toward Hood, despite comments earlier this month in which he referred to Hood’s “vested personal reasons” for criticizing ambulance response times.