Pickering hosts major funding announcement for paramedics, ambulance services in Durham

Ambulance services in Durham Region received a nine per cent boost in funding Friday, with the Province investing more than $34 million this year to connect people to emergency care faster and increase the availability of ambulances.

The increase in base funding helps ensure municipalities address increased costs so they can continue to deliver high-quality emergency care, said Ontario Finance Minister and Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, who was at a Pickering EMS station Friday morning for the announcement.

“This $34.4M investment will make a real difference in emergency care for Durham Region, helping paramedics respond more quickly and effectively,” Bethlenfalvy said. “It’s part of our ongoing commitment to building a stronger healthcare system.

The funding announcement also included news that the Ontario government is investing nearly $800,000 in the Region through the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to hire more nurses and other health professionals dedicated to offloading ambulance patients in hospital emergency departments.

The program allows paramedics to get back out into the community faster and respond to their next 9-1-1 call sooner and has played a “significant role” in reducing ambulance offload times and increasing ambulance availability for 9-1-1 patients across the province, said Durham Paramedic Services Chief Troy Cheseboro.

“Durham’s paramedics are on the front lines everyday providing lifesaving interventions and bringing healthcare to some of the Region’s most vulnerable residents. This significant increase to our provincial Land Services Ambulance Grant will enhance healthcare services for our communities.”

The program has helped reduce provincial ambulance offload time by more than 50 per cent since its peak in October 2022, allowing municipalities cover around 800,000 dedicated hours to support offloading ambulance patients in the emergency department.

To ensure urgent patients receive critical care sooner, the government is also continuing the roll out of the Medical Priority Dispatch System across the province. The system helps better prioritize and triage emergency medical calls and dispatch paramedics sooner. Over the last year, the province has introduced the system to Mississauga, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, and Renfrew, and is accelerating progress to implement it at the 15 remaining dispatch sites across Ontario a year ahead of schedule.

“Region of Durham Paramedic Services provides critical emergency healthcare to our residents, when and where they need it most,” said Durham Region Chair John Henry. “Ensuring paramedics can quickly deliver essential emergency services is vital to the safety, health and well-being of residents. We are grateful to the province for this impactful investment in emergency care in Durham Region.”