Changes to ambulance service deployment in Greater Victoria will mean a new model for how the British Columbia Ambulance Service attends the West Shore.
On Oct. 29 the regional ambulance service switched to a centralized model of dispatch, with the 3300 Douglas Street station turning into a central reporting station. Paramedics in Greater Victoria will now report to this central station and will then be assigned to an area based on need.
For the West Shore this means one of the two ambulances which has typically been kept at the Leigh Road station will now report to the central Victoria station.
“This change does not result in a service reduction for the (West Shore) communities,” said a BCAS spokesperson in an email. “It is simply a change to where the ambulance will start its shift. The same number of ambulances will be available to respond to calls in the West Shore.”
One ambulance will continue to be permanently based at the Leigh Road station, while others will serve the area based on demand.
Requests for comment from the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. union were not returned.
