'Totally unacceptable': Province says there have been 587 instances where an ambulance wasn't immediately available in 2023

There have been 587 instances in 2023 so far where an ambulance hasn’t been immediately available for someone in need, according to the province.

There have been 587 instances in 2023 so far where an ambulance hasn’t been immediately available for someone in need, according to the province.

That includes 440 instances between Feb. 1 and May 9, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said.

“This does not mean an ambulance was not dispatched,” a statement from the province read.

“If a local ambulance is not immediately available, the SHA dispatches the next closest ambulance.”

The NDP opposition said that those numbers may not tell the whole story as the province’s biggest city is not included in that count.

“That doesn’t even include Saskatoon as the province’s biggest city, so we really don’t have a clear picture of the province-wide numbers,” NDP MLA and remote health critic Matt Love told reporters following question period on Tuesday.

“But in those communities served by SHA ambulance service, 587 calls for an ambulance. Somebody in their biggest time of need and there wasn’t an ambulance available.”