Medical flight specialists left out of provincial retention initiative
๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ต, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ. ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐!
St. John’s, NL โ Medical Flight Specialists (MFS) in Newfoundland and Labrador are expressing deep frustration and discouragement after being excluded from a recent government retention initiative aimed at supporting frontline paramedicine workers in the province. The initiative, announced by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, provides incentives and support exclusively for road ambulance services and paramedics, leaving medical flight specialists feeling devalued and unimportant. The Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP), the union representing MFSโ is calling for immediate recourse.
As a province with many remote and rural communities, medical flight specialists play a critical role in ensuring the delivery of urgent, life-saving care to those in the most isolated parts of NL. These highly skilled and trained healthcare professionals are responsible for assessing, treating and transporting critically ill and injured patients by air, often in difficult and hazardous conditions. Their work is an essential pillar of the provinceโs healthcare system, especially in areas where access to hospitals and specialized care is limited.
“The decision to not include MFSโ in this initiative is incredibly frustrating and has us all shaking our heads in disbelief,” said Gord Piercey, President of AAHP. “These members are constantly working in high-risk situations, dealing with life-or-death scenarios, and yet are treated like an afterthought. It feels as if their contributions are being dismissed, even though they are an integral part of the healthcare system. If things don’t change soon, I fear that many will leave the profession entirelyโand thatโs something this province cannot afford.”
Soon after the retention initiative announcement, the provincial government announced the launch of an important Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT) intervention program aimed at improving outcomes for stroke patients across the province. This project will rely heavily on the expertise of medical flight specialists, who will be called upon to transport patients to specialized care in a timely manner. Yet, despite their critical role in the programโs success, they have been left out of the very retention support that could help ensure they remain. This added more frustration to an already exasperated MFS workforce.
โThe irony and frustration of it all is overwhelming,โ said Piercey. “The government is unveiling this expanded service for stroke intervention, but it completely ignores the fact that it will depend on the very workers theyโve failed to support. They are being asked to do more with lessโagain. This is yet another example of government not listening, not being transparent and not engaging their front-line workers!โ
The exclusion of medical flight specialists from the new retention initiative raises urgent concerns about the long-term sustainability of the profession. Many MFSโ are grappling with burnout, mental health challenges, feeling undervalued and increasing workload pressures. The lack of government support is pushing them to reconsider their future in the field.
โThe potential loss of these highly trained professionals would further stretch an already fragile healthcare system, particularly in rural and remote areas where medical flight specialists are often the difference between life and death,โ added Piercey.
The AAHP is calling on the provincial government to immediately address this oversight and extend retention measures to include medical flight specialists.
โThis group of Health Professionals have qualifications that would allow them to work in several other vital roles, both inside and outside of NL Health Services; often with improved work-life balance and increased pay. We are now at a high risk of losing these highly skilled professionals that the residents of the province desperately need,โ concluded Piercey.
โIf the government is serious about improving healthcare outcomes for all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, it must recognize the value and dedication of those of us who provide 24/7 critical air ambulance services in some of the most demanding environments,โ added a Medical Flight Specialist and AAHP member. โThere is imminent risk that this service could be lost, and that is a dangerous outcome for an already unstable healthcare system. Itโs time the government acknowledges our role and provides the support we so desperately need. Weโre at a breaking point, and if they donโt take action, we could see a mass exodus from this essential profession.”
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Erin Curran
709-325-7193
erin@lupinecommunications.com