Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen has announced more frontline full time paramedics are working in communities across Manitoba.  These new paramedics will be providing emergency response services to communities such as Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Cranberry Portage, Russell and Swan River and provide cover to shifts in the Southern Health Region.  He did not indicate how many have been hired to date but noted the majority of positions have now been filled with work underway to have remaining positions in place by mid-January. In June Friesen had announced 13 new paramedics would be hired and strategically placed throughout the Northern Health Region. Paramedics fall under the jurisdiction of Shared Health and not the Health Region.

Friesen says when people are experiencing a health emergency they need to know skilled paramedics are available to provide care as quickly as possible.  He adds this investment ensures more consistent reliable care to communities across northern, western and southern Manitoba when it’s needed most.