Home / Health / No Beds Nearby: Family's 2.5-Hour Ambulance Ride Costs $1,300
No Beds Nearby: Family's 2.5-Hour Ambulance Ride Costs $1,300
13 Aug
Summary
- A young boy's severe fever led to a costly emergency ambulance ride.
- The family faced a $1,300 bill due to lack of nearby hospital beds.
- Opposition highlights concerns over rural emergency service accessibility.
A family in Biggar, Saskatchewan, incurred a $1,300 charge for an ambulance ride due to a critical shortage of hospital beds. When their three-year-old son, Nolan, developed a severe fever of over 40° C, the local clinic advised emergency care. The family discovered that hospitals in Saskatoon, North Battleford, and Swift Current had no available beds.
The only option was a two-and-a-half-hour ambulance journey to Prince Albert, which resulted in the substantial bill. The family expressed frustration that accessing essential care was so difficult. The provincial Opposition NDP has used the family's experience to highlight broader issues with rural emergency service accessibility, questioning the potential life-or-death consequences of extended transport times.
In response to capacity pressures, the provincial government announced plans to expand Saskatoon hospitals by adding 146 beds. However, it was also noted that ambulance services are not covered under the Canada Health Act, and inter-hospital transport is not an insured benefit.
