The Chief of Niagara EMS is responding to troubling statements by union officials who are reporting that morale is low and pressure is high for our region's paramedics.
Kevin Smith tells CKTB the issue of morale is not a foreign one, but he takes it seriously.
Union officials attended the region's public health committee this week with 20 off-duty paramedics listing off their concerns which include off-loading problems at local hospitals.
Smith says they have been addressing the off-loading issues with Niagara Health and he doesn't want people to lose sight of the wonderful work being done by the 400 Niagara EMS members.
He says they have work to do and they are addressing issues brought to them by CUPE.
Smith says not every Niagara EMS member feels the way the union has stated.
He say there has been a 50% increase in 911 calls and that puts pressure on his team.
Smith says he cut his teeth as a front line paramedic and while he has taken on different leadership roles, he hasn't lost sight of what it was like and how challenging the job is.
He says they will be speaking to the health committee on March 7th. The union says they will be there.
CKTB reached out to the union for comment, but we have not heard back yet.