Steinbach MLA and Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Kelvin Goertzen, announced that Stakeholder consultations on the self-regulation of paramedics are complete and the province has received the report from the consultant.
“Consultation on self-regulation was needed to ensure the concerns and ideas of all stakeholders were heard and their perspectives were carefully considered during this process,” said Goertzen. “I want to thank Reg Toews for his work on this report, which we will now review and consider before determining our next steps as paramedic self-regulation moves forward in Manitoba.”
Toews met with senior representatives from several organizations including the Paramedic Association of Manitoba, the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, the Brandon Fire and Emergency Services, Brandon Professional Fire Fighters/Paramedic Association, Thompson Fire and Emergency Services, Thompson Professional Fire Fighters Association, the Manitoba Government Employees Union, the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, the Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba.
Toews used their feedback, reviews of paramedic self-regulation in other provinces, as well as reviews of similar organizations, to develop three operational options to address issues and concerns as self-regulation is implemented.
The Regulated Health Professions Amendment Act proposes all regulated health professions be brought under one umbrella piece of legislation. The proposed act would set out a new way of regulating who does what in the provision of health services, based on the concept of regulating specific health procedures.
These activities, known as “reserved acts”, must be performed in the course of providing health care by competent health-care professionals. The health professional must have the appropriate knowledge, competence and skills necessary to perform the act safely.
