TransLink reviews policies after medical emergency on Canada Line
TransLink says they will conduct a "comprehensive" review following an incident on the Canada Line where a woman in medical distress on a train was moved — against protocol — several stops away from where paramedics were about to meet her.
On Wed., Nov. 30, a woman was observed fainting and falling backwards several times during the evening rush, between approximately 6:35 and 6:45 p.m. The train came to a halt at Broadway-City Hall Station.
One passenger, a CBC employee, dialled 911 and was told by a dispatcher that an ambulance was being dispatched to the station. Another passenger administered first aid and at least one other person pressed the emergency strip on the train, summoning a Canada Line attendant.
A Translink attendant asked other passengers to leave and the train was emptied of all but three or four passengers plus the patient.
As well, an ambulance was dispatched to the station. But then, the train left the station - carrying the patient - and went to Waterfront.
'We were not involved in any way'
The next day, a TransLink spokesman told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn that the train was moved in consultation with B.C. Ambulance.
"We worked directly with B.C. Ambulance … and in our discussion with BC Ambulance, we determined it was safe to move the train to Waterfront where she would be met by paramedics," Chris Bryan said, adding the woman was attended to at Waterfront within 23 minutes of the first call to 911.
But in a statement later that day, B.C. Emergency Health Services, which is responsible for B.C. Ambulance Service, told a different story, saying it never gave the okay to have the patient moved.
"BCEHS dispatched an ambulance to Broadway and Cambie, and as we approached the location of the original call, we were told the train was moved to Waterfront so we re-routed to Waterfront," the statement from Linda Lupini, executive vice president, read.
"We were not involved in any way in the decision to move the train and we not did provide advice to TransLink that the patient was able to be moved.
"Those were decisions made solely by TransLink."
TransLink later says OK was never given
On Monday, Bryan sent the CBC a statement reflecting what he said was new information from Canada Line.
He said the only time a train should be moved in a situation involving this kind of medical event is when emergency personnel have given the okay, and in this case, that approval was never given.
"Immediate measures have been taken to underpin our protocol of holding trains at stations concurrent with a passenger requiring medical attention on a train under a 911 call," the statement read.
"We remain committed to the safety and security of passengers as our first priority and again have taken immediate measures to prevent reoccurrence."
Bryan says timelines, communications and the handling of the incident are under review and adds that the transit authority apologizes to the patient involved.
The CBC has not been able to reach that patient.
Canada Line is not directly operated by TransLink. IntransitBC has a contract with TransLink to manage it for the first 35 years of operation as part of a public-private partnership.
With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast
