An ambulance operator says the system in N.L. would be stretched further by a strike

An ambulance operator in Whitbourne says the already stretched paramedic system will be stretched even further if the more than 100 employees of seven private ambulance companies and owner Bob Fewer decide to strike.

"If there is an emergency and we do have something available that we can send in close proximity that would benefit the person, we would respond," Wade Smith, owner of Smith's Ambulance Services in Whitbourne, saidMonday.

"But the thing is, that's going to stress our staff out. Our staff works 24 hours. Once our staff start doing calls like that, and we look at, 'OK, your fatigue time is up,' then we have to take that full crew off. We can't respond to anything."

Wade wonderswho will respond to emergency calls in his coverage area if that scenario actually happens, saying he doesn't see any signs of relief right now.

The provincial government has said itsregional health authorities will work with private ambulance services, bring on additional staff to support emergency responseswithroutine transfer servicesand "activate additional RHA ambulances," in response to a disruption.

"If ambulance services are required, residents of the region are directed to call 911. N.L. 911 has been made aware of the potential change in service and is ready to redirect calls to the appropriate provider," reads a statement from provincial communications directorDebbie Marnell on behalf of the departments ofEnvironment and Climate Change, andHealth and Community Services.

The more than 100 employees considering strikingbegana work-to-rule campaign on Wednesday, which means they perform only their core job functions.

The union that represents the workers Teamsters Local 855 said the campaign is thefirst step in thestrike plan, though ambulance services haven't been disrupted yet.

Hubert Dawe, the business agent forTeamsters Local 855, also wonders where the resources will come from if his members strike.

He calls the province's statementmisleading.

"The reality is we have ambulances that have been allocated in these contracts private operators have with the government that have been parked because there's physically nobody to sit aboard those ambulances and to make those ambulances work," Dawe said.

"I really and truly don't know where these paramedics are coming from. If the government has them in their back pocket, please let them out, it would help the situation greatly right now."

CBC News asked the Department of Health where the additional staff will come from, what roles they would fill,thecapacity of adjacent ambulance services to fill gaps elsewhere andhow many additional ambulances to RHAs have.

The department saidcontingency plans were developed by the regional health authorities and theywould be better suited to answer any inquiries relating to operations.

In a statement to CBC News, Central Health communications director GayleSt. Croix saidCentral Health and Eastern Healthhave contingency plans to help mitigate any job action impact.

"Mutual aid is often provided when ambulances are out of a service area by other private and community operators that are not involved in this job action. This is expected to continue as per regular processes," the statement reads.

"RHAs can also provide support internally when an ambulance is out of a service area, within available human and ambulance resources.The number of additional available ambulances within the RHAs is variable depending on the region, time of dayand staff availability.RHAs will assess whether any support can be provided following established processes."

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