THE MARITIMES SCANNING SITE

NEW BRUNSWICK AMBULANCE and HOSPITAL SERVICES
© 2007, MARITIMES SCANNING SITE, all rights reserved

Last updated: December 23, 2007

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMBULANCE SYSTEM IN NEW BRUNSWICK IS NOW OBSOLETE.   COMMENCING ON DECEMBER 22, 2007 THE MYRIAD (APPROXIMATELY 50) OF SEPARATE OPERATORS WERE REPLACED BY ONE OPERATOR.

The new system is run by New Brunswick EMS Inc., part of  Medavie Blue Cross, which also operates the systems in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.  While I have been casually following the discussions and news releases, I will be waiting for the dust to settle before attempting to rewrite the description seen below.   In terms of frequencies and dispatch it is my understanding that the main difference for now is that the Saint John area now uses the VHF system like everyone else, rather than the local 800 MHz trunk.   Those who wish to know the details should go to Nick's discussion forum site at http://scanmaritimes.cjb.net/ 

The NB system is made up of many small operations, each with its own dispatch frequency. In September 2006 a contract had been awarded to EMC, a division of Medavie Blue Cross, to establish a single-owner ambulance system for New Brunswick.   In concept this will be similar to that in operation in Nova Scotia for a number of years and in PEI for a shorter time, and all with the same owner.   There is naturally some consideration being given to overhauling the present radio system, even to the extent of constructing an 800 MHz trunk system; however this will almost assuredly require other players to be heavily involved.

Currently there is already a  unified ambulance numbering system, as seen in the list of ambulance call signs provided by Charles. (Thanks to Chris for his earlier version)  In some cases the operator is the fire department and therefore fire frequencies may be used. Additionally all ambulances also use a provincially-operated ambulance communications network with a control centre in Moncton.  The system is also be used for communications with hospitals for check-in and consultation.  

Dispatching for the entire Province with the exception of Saint John is from the MTCC-Medical Transportation Co-ordination Centre in Moncton. . All 911 calls are forwarded here where trained personnel answer medical calls and page out the ambulance services for a certain area of the Province. The EMS call in when on route (via repeater) and notify the MTCC of all stops and pick ups and communicate with the regional hospital with patient updates.   

It is unknown how the local repeaters are linked to the MTCC (normal base radio or a land-line link) but MTCC does not continuously monitor the repeaters.  Once an ambulance is paged out its communications are then within that ambulance operator and with the hospital of choice. Hospitals have base radios on the local frequency and monitor all transmissions.   For example Moncton City Hospital (XMZ206) and Georges Dumont Hospital (XMQ38) both in Moncton, monitor the Channel 6 repeater on Indian Mountain.  There is no separate channel for ambulances to report in to the receiving hospital.

FOR THE LIST OF HOSPITALS IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CLICK HERE

NB Ambulance Frequencies (Provincial System)
 (Charles' chart, Oct 2004, revised Sept 2006))  
Map of the provincial system (current 2002): click here 

 Odd channel numbers are the simplex version of the next higher even number channel.  For example Ch 1 is simplex on 150.65.   Channel 2 is the repeater pair on 150.65 (151.46 input).    Repeaters use a tone input of 151.4 except that channels 10 and 12 use 167.9 tone input.   Channel numbers in the twenties were originally set aside for use with systems outside the province but have not been implemented.

** Input frequencies are included only as a means of identification if you happen to hear them in search mode.

Dedicated Individual Service Frequencies (This section is likely to be seriously out of date....)

Some services have retained their own radio system that was in place prior to the E-911 start-up. Many of these are Radio Telephone Synchronised Systems (RTSS). These systems are used simultaneously with the pagers in the event of pager failure. Those services are closely allied with local fire departments that my also use that frequency. Most other services use the provincial channels especially where there is low traffic use.   The province owns and maintains a few RTSS repeater systems for the use of four services indicated by an asterisk.   Input frequencies shown in parentheses are listed in order to help you identify signals found when you are on search mode.   The most common input tone when utilized is 151.4 Hz.

Dalhousie (Restigouche EMS )…………………………………………………...168.915 (169.875)

Campbellton Regional Ambulance……………………………………………... 152.015 (158.265)

Bathurst (Ambulance Chaleur)…………...……………………………………..  150.500 (152.915)

Nashwaak-Keswick EMS ………………………………………………………….. 149.335

Riverside-Albert (Maritime EMS )………………………...……………………    *150.095 (155.52)

Fredericton Jct. ( Queens Sunbury-West Ambulance)………………….…    *150.095 (155.52)

Boiestown (South-West Miramichi Ambulance)…………………………        *150.095 (155.52)

Baie Sainte-Anne (CJMO Ambulance)………………………………………      *150.095 (155.52)

St. Quentin/Kedgewick (SMU Maurice Doucette)…………………………..     154.355

Saint John (AHSC)………………………………………       Saint John Municipal Trunk (tg 2384)