Nova Scotia adds nurses to 911 call centre to free up paramedics – CBC
Government hopes change will improve overall emergency response
Oct 28, 2022
Nova Scotia will now station a nurse at the Emergency Health Services’s medical communications centre in a move the government says will free up paramedics.
The registered nurse will work with a clinical support paramedic and doctor to help give medical advice and treatment options to people who call 911 with a medical issue. The new role starts in November.
“If the call is health-related but does not need paramedic assistance, the caller may be transferred to the EHS nurse, who will assess the patient, plan treatment and provide medical advice,” spokesperson Khalehla Perrault said in a news release Friday.
The government hopes that will free up paramedics to respond in person to emergencies.
People who need non-emergency medical advice can still call 811 and speak to a nurse any time.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-nurses-911-call-centre-1.6632715
