State to assume EMS services

After weeks of debates, and talking to EMS providers across San Andreas, the State Health Authority is officially announcing that they will be assuming the control of EMS services within the state.

"This will allow us to centralize our dispatching centre and EMS coordination centre. It will also provide additional funding to our EMS crews on the road." said Ross Bugley, spokesman for SASHA.

"It's an all-around exciting movement, and a step in the right direction."

Not everyone agrees, though.

"I'm not too big on the state assuming control of the EMS operations." stated a rural paramedic in an interview, who wishes to remain anonymous.

"What does that mean for us rural medics? We're overlooked as it is, resources are stretched thin, and they want to maintain operations in the city?"

"We understand that some EMS providers are up in arms still about the changes. We can say that despite the state assuming control of EMS operations, independent agencies will still operate in their municipalities. Their only major change will be to structure and dispatching. Their contracts will also be signed over to the state, and they will be state employees, contracted to these agencies." - Ross Bugley

There's still plenty of work to be done, before the transition is complete, but in the time that it will take, SASHA reminds residents that their level of EMS care is not going to change, and if anything, will only get better.

With weeks to come, the state and the rural EMS providers will find out, just how much better that change will get.

With CountyNEWSTALK, I'm Tom Killter.