Air ambulance RFP situation breeds rumour, mystery

When there is secrecy, unanswered questions and unexplained delays it turns into a mystery.

The air ambulance RFP (request for proposals) is shrouded in mystery, creating a breeding ground for speculation and rumour.

For the general public it does not matter how many times Alberta Health Services (AHS) issues a statement, assuring Albertans that the air ambulance program will continue as it always has and there is no need to worry, there is doubt.

So far the public is not doubting that the program will continue but they want to be sure the process in that regard is fair, transparent and that any decisions by AHS will not put the program in jeopardy in future.

AHS may feel there is no need for the public to be kept informed. It may feel the public should trust the process but there is a very good reason why the public has the right to know the details in a situation such as this. Taxpayers are funding the air ambulance program and it is taxpayers paying the salaries of the AHS staff involved.

That an RFP was issued roughly nine months ago, was awarded on March 21, and there is still no contract signed is sending up red flags.

That none of the bidders in the RFP process are allowed to speak to the media on the issue, even at this stage of the process, is also a “tidy” way of AHS attempting to squash debate and details that deserve to be aired.

There is also a very real and valid concern about the future security of the program if the contract is signed as expected. Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes and local businessman/pilot Les Little, who was instrumental in establishing the first dedicated fixed wing air ambulance for southern Alberta in 1984, have expressed concerns about AHS awarding about 90 per cent of the air ambulance base locations to one operator.

Any aircraft incident or concerns by Transport Canada during an inspection could shut down the operator, leaving the majority of Alberta without air ambulance service. Little has noted two situations in the past where air ambulance operators were shut down temporarily. In those cases there were enough other operators to cover additional areas of the province. That would no longer be the case. AHS would be left with STARS and an operator in the far north and they would certainly not be able to cope with the volume of calls. This should be addressed by AHS before signing a contract and the public told what would happen if the operator is ever temporarily shut down.

To lift the shroud of mystery, AHS needs to come clean about what is taking place and tell the public why it feels it is appropriate to give the operator that has been awarded the contract until the end of August to come up with a plan to meet the requirements of the RFP. That should have been determined before bidding on the RFP.

(Gillian Slade is a News reporter. To comment on this and other editorials, go to www.medicinehatnews.com/opinions or call her at 403-528-8635.)