The Prince Edward Island government is improving access to emergency care by eliminating the ambulance fee charged to patients transferred from one hospital to another, and introducing an ambulance dedicated to transferring patients between facilities, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“Our government is committed to reducing wait times and improving access to care by ensuring every hospital and health facility is being used to the best of its potential to provide timely, quality care to Islanders,” said the minister. “That means patients will sometimes visit more than one hospital over the course of their care. However, patients shouldn’t be burdened with the cost of the ambulance. Instead, they should be focused on their recovery.”
Currently, Islanders are sometimes charged a $150 fee to be transferred from one hospital to another. Effective immediately, all ambulance transfers between hospitals will be provided free of charge.
Government is also introducing a new ambulance dedicated to transferring patients from one hospital to another. This unit will result in better emergency care for all Islanders by freeing up other ambulances to respond to emergencies, and will help keep other ambulances in Island communities.
The new transfer ambulance is able to transfer up to four patients at a time. It will begin transferring patients early in January.
“Government recognizes that improving ambulance services in rural Prince Edward Island is a priority for Islanders,” said the minister. “That’s why we’ve increased investments in ambulance services, expanded the provincial ambulance fleet and introduced two rapid response units in eastern and western Prince Edward Island. This new transfer ambulance will further strengthen emergency services in our province.”