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Response times keep pace with hike in ambulance calls by Julia Le Metroland West Media 5 | Friday, July 12, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com In 2012, Halton paramedics responded to 36,000 calls and transported 24,000 patients to hospital, according to a Halton Region director. Greg Sage, who heads up Halton's paramedic services, told regional council's health and social services committee last week there has been "significant growth" in emergency calls. "There has been a seven per cent increase in call volume and a five per cent increase in patient transport," he said in delivering two related reports on paramedic services and response times. Sage said there continues to be delays in offloading patients at hospitals, which is due in part to the lack of in-patient hospital beds. The delays, which saw a spike last year of 28 per cent from the year before, are having a significant impact on paramedic operations, he noted. Sage said staff is looking at ways to deal with the increase in calls and minimize off-loading delays. The Region is reviewing the situation while waiting on the Province to approve its provincial budget before staff can move ahead with its service delivery plan. Despite the challenges paramedic services are facing, Sage said there's good news to be shared. Work is underway on a new Oakville station at Bronte and Pine Glen, he said, while a property has been secured for a station in east Milton, at Derry and Fifth Line, which is expected to open in 2015 or 2016. Other new stations in Milton at Regional Road 25 and Louis St. Laurent Avenue and in There has been a seven per cent increase in call volume and a five per cent increase in patient transport. Halton Emergency Medical Services (EMS) director Greg Sage southwest Oakville are also in the radar. Sage said paramedic response times are in line with the Ambulance Act, which requires standard response time standard to be equal to the 90th percentile response time achieved in 1996. Halton's 1996 response time was 10 minutes and 32 seconds. That was exceeded by 19 seconds in 2012. This year, changes in provincial regulations approved in 2008 mean paramedic operations have to be adjusted to meet the requirements. The Region was required to establish a response time performance plan, which was approved by regional council last summer. That outlines how the Region will meet the standards for different levels of emergencies -- and includes reporting on the percentage of responses within six minutes or less to patients with sudden cardiac arrest. The reports state in 2012, the paramedic services division response times were consistent with the council-approved 2013 response time targets set, and that staff belief they'll continue to be met this year. During discussion, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr asked whether recent advocacy work done by councillors has helped the operations run more smoothly at the central ambulance communications centre (CACC), which is responsible for all communications including prioritizing and processing requests for paramedic services. The report states CACC performance greatly influences emergency response times. Sage said he would like to think councillors' efforts have made an impact, but the centre's performance tends to be "cyclical." He added better numbers have been reported over the last months and he's "cautiously optimistic the trend will continue." Committee members also discussed the Niagara Region's call centre and its use of newer technology that's helping dispatch paramedics a minute faster than others on average. They criticized the shared funding model with the Province, which is supposed to be a 50/50 split, but in reality is more like 44/56, with the Region footing the larger portion. Carr said the Region isn't going to "shortchange" its residents, which is why new paramedics were hired to staff two new ambulances 12 hours per day, seven days a week. The new ambulances were recently staffed last month, and the Region hopes it will have a positive impact on its paramedic response times. Sore Feet, Sports Injury, Painful Ingrown Toenails? Plantar Warts? We can help! Exceptional footcare for all ages. · Routine footcare · Corns & calluses · Plantar warts · Heel/arch/foot pain · Diabetic footcare and education · Thick or ingrown nails · Nail surgery · Sports related foot problems & injuries · Custom made orthotics · Sigvaris® compression stockings · Evenings and saturday appointments available · New patients welcome! J. Richard Werkman CHIROPODIST Visit our website, subscribe to our Blog or call for an appointment. Ample Free parking. located on the north/west corner of maple grove dr. and cornwall rd. 1495 Cornwall Rd., Suite 33, Oakville T: 905-845-4817 www.werkman.ca Clarification In clarification of a story, Oakville hospital receives $2.4M to cover its moving costs, in the Thursday, July 11 edition of the Oakville Beaver, the $2.4 million transitional funding is intended to assist in the costs of preparing for the changes associated with the move to the new Oakville hospital. The Beaver regrets any misunderstanding that may have occurred. Want to pay less for auto insurance? Sure. How about paying less for home insurance, too? * % 15 HSC iS a FaMiLY SCHooL. Everyone cares about each other. The teachers help us and we're all connected like a family." - Current HSC Student CaMpS at www.hsc.on.ca SuMMER Register for HSC Bundle & Save You need auto insurance. You also need home insurance. 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