SAN DIEGO - The City of San Diego is weighing its options as its current ambulance service provider fails to meet its obligations.
City Councilmembers on Wednesday said they would take drastic measures come January to help solve the issues with Emergency Medical Service provider Falck, as the company's service hours and staffing levels continue to drop. One idea discussed was hiring a second ambulance service while another idea was to have San Diego Fire-Rescue paramedics help staff Falck's operations.
“It’s our belief this may result in city of San Diego Fire-Rescue having to take greater responsibilities and extra measures to cover this increasing number of unstaffed shifts with San Diego Fire-Rescue paramedics,” labor union leader Tony Sorci told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
A third option on the table is for the city to terminate it's agreement with Falck and create its own Emergency Medical Service within the fire department.
Photo: Eddie McCoven