September 21, 2006

Manitobans living in rural and northern areas can look forward to more efficient co-ordination and deployment of emergency medical resources with today’s official opening of Brandon’s new $7.8‑million Medical Transportation Co-ordination Centre (MTCC), Health Minister Tim Sale has announced.

"The Manitoba government has made major investments in related capital, equipment and technology,” said Sale. “Government is taking a comprehensive approach to creating a modern emergency medical system where all Manitobans have improved access to emergency medical services.”

The Medical Transportation Co-ordination Centre will become the dedicated centre for the dispatch of all rural and northern medical services including northern medivacs. It will manage and co-ordinate all inter-facility transfers across the province and will help to ensure faster response times and more efficient co-ordination and deployment of emergency medical resources.

“The Brandon Regional Health Authority is pleased to be a partner in this important provincial initiative, through provision of space and support services,” said Carmel Olson, chair, Council of RHA Chief Executive Officers and CEO, Brandon Regional Health Authority. “We consider this an opportunity to contribute to an improvement in a critical component of the health-care system.”

“Paramedics across the province welcome the concept of centralizing management of ambulance co-ordination and dispatch in an effort to improve service delivery and the medical treatment of our patients,” said Eric Glass, chair, Paramedic Association of Manitoba. “The MTCC will have the ability to ensure that the utilization of our EMS resources is co-ordinated provincewide, and that has the potential to improve service to patients throughout Manitoba.”

MTCC will also be responsible for managing and co-ordinating all inter-facility transfers within the city of Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service will continue to handle all emergency medical dispatches within Winnipeg.

MTCC is a critical operation that will function 24 hours a day and use technology such as computer-aided dispatching and advanced communications.

The centre will employ 31 staff and will cost approximately $4.8 million a year to operate.

"In many cases, emergency medical services are the first point of contact for Manitobans when using our health-care system,” said Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade Minister Scott Smith, speaking at the ceremonies today. “Having MTCC in Brandon will also provide significant investments and jobs in the community.”

During the last seven years, the Manitoba government has invested heavily in other emergency medical services including:

• operational funding improvements for regional health authorities,

• a fleet vehicle program that includes the purchasing of 160 ambulances, and

• more than $2 million for Winnipeg’s emergency medical services system.

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