FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Eastern Ontario, May 24, 2023
Media Release
Eastern Ontario - The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) is proud to release the Partial Refresh of the 2019 EOWC Paramedic Services Situation Overview Report.
The EOWC set paramedic services as a priority for 2023 in response to the growing pressure faced by paramedic services throughout the region. The report includes updated data for both the EOWC as a region as well as each of the 13 member municipalities following the initial EOWC paramedic services situational overview report from 2019. The EOWC looks forward to sharing the report, key findings and recommendations with its Ontario Government partners and key stakeholders to work together to improve paramedics services, community paramedicine and the overall community healthcare across rural eastern Ontario.
The report contains an updated environmental scan, new five-year predictive forecasts, and the following priority recommendations:
- Hospital offload delays need to be fixed
- Community paramedicine programs require a provincial commitment to permanent and predictable funding
- The dispatch system needs to be modernized to ensure the deployment of resources appropriate to 911 response, and to support community paramedicine
- Community college paramedic enrolment needs to increase
“As part of the community healthcare sector, paramedic services carried communities throughout the pandemic. The EOWC likes to do our homework and this report shows exactly that. We look forward to advocating for these evidence-based recommendations and working with our provincial partners to make improvements,” stated EOWC Chair Peter Emon.
“As a former nurse, I am proud to be part of finding solutions based on data and would like thank staff that were involved. This report sheds light on what needs to be done to better support our rural communities and find efficiencies in the healthcare system. I look forward to continuing to advocate for improved healthcare systems and resource allocation,” said EOWC Vice-Chair, Bonnie Clark.
The EOWC recognizes contributions from the Paramedic Services Chiefs, Chief Administrative Officers, and municipal staff from across the region. The EOWC would like to thank ApexPro Consulting Inc. for their services in developing both the initial report in 2019 and this 2023 refreshed report.
The refreshed report is available on the EOWC website: www.eowc.org/2023paramedicstudy
About the EOWC
The EOWC is an incorporated non-profit organization comprised of the Heads of Council of 13 upper and single-tier municipalities across rural eastern Ontario. The Caucus supports and advocates on behalf of 103 municipalities and nearly 800,000 residents. The EOWC covers an area of almost 50,000 square kilometres from the County of Northumberland to the Québec border. The EOWC has gained support and momentum by speaking with a united voice to champion regional municipal priorities and work with government, business leaders, the media, and the public.
For more information, please contact:
- EOWC General and Media Inquiries, info@eowc.org
- Peter Emon, Chair, info@eowc.org
- Bonnie Clark, Vice-Chair, info@eowc.org
- Meredith Staveley-Watson, Manager of Government Relations and Policy, meredith.staveley-watson@eowc.org or 647-545-8324
