Barring approval from Hastings County Council, Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services will be looking to submit a funding application to the Ministry of Health for community paramedic funding.
The Hastings/Quinte Emergency Services Committee approved the recommendation to council on Thursday as part of a joint proposal submitted by local healthcare providers.
Partners in the application would include Canadian Mental Health Association-Hastings Prince Edward, Quinte Health, Belleville and Quinte West Community Health Centre, Loyalist College, Hastings County and the United Way.
The proposal is in response to the declared State of Emergency related to mental health and addiction issues in Belleville this past February.
Hastings-Quinte Paramedics submitted costing for their role in the application which would include a community paramedic that would provide emergency care 12 hours a day, seven days a week at Bridge Street Hub or Alhambra Centre.
In addition there would be a community paramedic that would be partnered with a mental health and addictions counsellor that would respond to 911 overdose calls and crisis line calls within the area.
The anticipated financial impact for Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services part of the proposal would $778,320.
Hastings County Council will look at the recommendation at a future meeting.
