News

$6.9 Million for Faster Emergency Care

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing $6.9 million in the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB), representing a 2 per cent increase in funding, to connect people to emergency care faster and increase the availability of ambulances.

“As a government, we recognize the unique challenges that the Nipissing District Services Board faces while providing emergency health services across our region,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This increase in base funding helps ensure our local ambulance services can address increased costs so they can continue to deliver high-quality emergency care.”

 “The DNSSAB appreciates the continued support of Paramedic Services from the Ontario government. The nearly $6.9 million from the Land Ambulance Service Grant will help to help to ensure the health and safety of our residents and visitors to our area.” – Mark King, Chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board.

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

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government continues to take action to strengthen the health care system so that it is responsive and is evolving to meet the health needs and priorities of Ontarians, no matter where they live.

QUICK FACTS

• Currently over 200 patient care models led by paramedic services across the province are now approved to provide appropriate and timely care options for eligible 9-1-1 patients in the community, instead of in the emergency department.
• The government is helping more students become paramedics by adding more than 300 spaces in paramedic programs at provincial colleges across Ontario, making it easier for future paramedics to access education and training closer to home.
• The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant is providing over 350 first-year paramedic students studying in select Northern postsecondary institutions with funding for free tuition, books, compulsory fees, and other direct educational costs. After graduating, students will need to work in the same region they studied for a minimum of six months for every full year of study funded by the grant.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Ontario Bolstering Nursing Workforce in Emergency Departments
• Ontario Investing in a Stronger Public Heath Sector