Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services acting chief John O’Donnell speaks to the committee of the whole on Thursday May 12, 2016. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Calls for Hastings Quinte Paramedic services in Prince Edward County increased last year.
On Thursday, Acting Chief John O’Donnell told the committee of the whole total calls went from 28,870 in 2014 to 30,550 in 2015. Emergency calls saw a jump too from 19,665 to 20,735 over the same time period.
O’Donnell says they are still looking at other options to address the increase without affecting response times pointing to the issue with last year’s Wellington trial.
Currently response times range from 6 to 8 minutes from the time of dispatch that a paramedic is on location accessing a patient.
O’Donnell says currently 25 percent of the County call volume is done by Hastings vehicles.
O’Donnell also requested the committee extend their contract with HQPS for another four years.
