SAN ANGELO, Texas — On Tuesday morning, the San Angelo city council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would allow private ambulance services in the city, which hasve been prohibited for decades.
San Angelo Fire Chief Brian Dunn presented a case to the council, saying the recent merger between Shannon Medical Center and Community Medical Center, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, has greatly increased the need for non-emergency transfers. Dunn said he worries the fire department will not be able to perform emergency transports in a timely manner if too many ambulances are busy with non-emergency transfers.
"What we're asking is, you allow us to have some private companies come in to do these transports, and take this burden off of us. We can only do so many non-emergency transports at a time because we have to have things remaining in service for emergency transports. Yesterday I think I had four ambulances go out for emergencies in a six-minute period. I mean, it is just crazy," he said.
Dunn recommended the city permit at least four private ambulance transport companies to operate in the city. He said there are already companies interested.
"You would want private ambulance services to come in and do these kinds of transports. They don't have to staff those ambulances with as high level of capability that we carry, nor the emergency equipment that we carry. They can do these," he said.
The private ambulances would not handle any emergency, 9-1-1 transports; they would only be utilized for non-emergency needs. The measure will require a second reading by the city council before becoming official.