Paramedic services in Hastings and Prince Edward counties are experiencing increased pressure on their services.
At the Emergency Services Committee meeting Wednesday Chief of Emergency Services Doug Socha painted a picture of the pressure on the services, in his report to the committee.
Socha said there’s a rising demand for services.
The report to the committee showed increased calls.
Socha indicated plans are underway to increase response times but he doesn’t expect the call volume to go down.
In answer to a comment by Quinte West Councillor Terry Cassidy that the number of calls may go down this year with fewer COVID calls, Socha said it’s the aging population that causes the increase and he doesn’t see any relief in those numbers.
He added, “The region has a greater number of seniors per capita than the Ontario average.”
Socha pointed to this year’s construction of a new base in Stirling which is expected to lower response times in an area of Hastings County that includes Marmora, Madoc and Tweed.
Community paramedics also respond to calls in addition to their home visits.
Helping lower response times, there will also be a new crew and ambulance on staff beginning this September.
