By Leah Murray

Mayor expresses need for funding for HALO once again

Jun 14, 2017 | 5:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The provincial government is looking to put in a new contract for fixed-wing air ambulance services in Alberta.

Alberta Health Services issued a request for proposals last year. CanWest is reported to be the front-runner for the contract.

The company doesn’t have anything set up to provide services here in Medicine Hat, which has been raising some concerns.

Mayor Ted Clugston said he has been in talks with the Minister of Health and AHS and said he’s been told the city won’t go without service.

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“I’ve been assured by the Minister of Health and AHS that there would be no consolidation in Calgary and that we would continue on with the present carrier, which is Integra,” said Clugston.

He said from what he’s been told the contract with Integra Air would be extended until the company selected for the contract is able to set up a hangar and services in the Medicine Hat.

In his conversations with the Health Minister Sarah Hoffman, Clugston said he also brought up the need for funding for HALO.

HALO Air Rescue currently receives no government funding unless they get dispatched to a call.

“They consider us a charter helicopter, that we only respond when we’re called,” said Tricia Nardari with HALO. “They don’t want to pay for any of the costs associated with us being ready and available and that’s the most significant cost.”

The province does fund STARS Air Ambulance though. The company receives 20 per cent of its total costs, which is around $3 million dollars a year.

HALO said it wants the same benefits as STARS, because it serves a large portion of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan that STARS can’t get to as quickly.

“Do you want to wait the hour for them to come to Medicine Hat to serve this area? Or, do you want a resource that’s immediately available, immediately launchable and can do a similar job?” questioned Nardari.

Mayor Ted Clugston said the city has been advocating for years for HALO to get some funding from the province.

“It’s infuriating frankly, because why would you treat citizens of Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie different than the citizens of Medicine Hat?” asked Clugston. “But, it has been going on and I don’t even blame just this government, it was the previous government as well that made that decision.”

The current contract between STARS and AHS expires in 2020.

We reached out to the Health Minister’s office to see if they would look at possibly including HALO in a new contract, but they were unable to provide a response.

HALO said ensuring residents in this corner of the province get timely air ambulance service when they need it is critical.

“I think that Minister Hoffman needs to take a look at what’s going on and identify we are not the same as the other areas of the province,” said Nardari. “We need to have some serious conversations about what’s the best way to serve the people in this community.”