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Union blames managers for ambulance ‘red alerts’ in Edmonton

By Edmonton Journal (Canada)

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada — The union representing paramedics in Edmonton is blaming poor management and not just crowded hospital emergency rooms for the high number of ambulance “red alerts” in recent weeks.

Randy Littlechild, of the Canadian Union of Provincial Employees, today said the city’s ambulance system has too many managers and not enough drivers to handle a crush of emergencies.

A “red alert” is when there are no ambulances available to respond. There have been nine “red alerts” in Edmonton so far in 2006.

Full Story: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=fc4ff920-b70a-4f48-9139-8d2b14a57ffe&k=40006