NAPE president worried about consultation proposal for ambulance centre

The president of Newfoundland and Labrador's largest union said he's concerned about a recent government request for proposals, which suggests the possibility of privatized ambulance dispatch services.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government issued a request for proposals earlier this week, calling for a consultant to look into the possible options for a central medical dispatch centre and develop an implementation plan.

The request says the consultant should analyse the pros and cons of several models for the dispatch centre, including "private or nonprofit constructed, staffed and managed CMDC operating under a long term performance based contract with HCS."

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) president Jerry Earle said he is concerned that a private centre would even be suggested.

"From our research, it shows that in all the provinces where this has been done, privatization of emergency services, of health care, has cost more and has had very concerning effects in some areas," he said.

Earle also said he was disappointed that major stakeholders were not consulted before issuing the proposal.

"We have major concerns. Why now? A government that's a couple of months from a election, this is something that we believe should have been delayed or had more consultations."

The request comes out of a 2012 review of the province's ambulance program, which recommended creating a central centre as a critical first step in integrating the province's ambulance system.

According to the review, the request will take a maximum of three months and cost $100,000 at most.