BCEHS disputes response time claim by widow

Photo: GoFundMe

BC Emergency Health Services says they responded as soon as they could to a call in Peachland that left one man dead.

BCEHS says they received a call at 4:06 a.m. on Jan 7 from Morrison Court in Peachland.

Jen Collins says she made the call to 911 after her husband stopped breathing.

She told Castanet the next day it took an ambulance about 30 minutes to arrive on the scene.

On Tuesday, BCEHS responded to questions and stated they arrived within 15 minutes of the call.

"The call was coded purple, the most urgent response, and the closest available ambulances were immediately dispatched with a lights and sirens response. While they were en route, a BCEHS call taker provided CPR and other first aid instructions to the caller," said BCEHS communications officer Cindy Leong.

"Paramedics arrived at the residence within 15 minutes and immediately began providing care to the patient. Paramedics did not transport the patient to hospital," Leong added.

Collins still says it took EHS longer than 15 minutes

"Phone records say from the time [I] phoned 911 until [I] turned the phone off when they took over chest compressions, it was 25 minutes," she said, claiming crews did not appear to be in a hurry.

Leong said questions or concerns from families can be sent to the BCEHS Patient Care Quality Office at [email protected].

An autopsy is expected to be done Wednesday, but findings won't be released for several months, according to Collins.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help the family with funeral and living expenses. To date, over $13,000 has been raised.