WHITEWATER REGION — It was announced Tuesday, April 16, that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s (MOHLTC) intent is to reduce 52 ambulance services to 10 through restructuring. This is apparently what the phrase “by integrating emergency health services into Ontario’s health care system” means in the budget document, said Pat Vanini, executive director of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
AMO is shocked with the announcement and deeply concerned, he said.
“There is no ready information on the government’s plan to do this restructuring, how it was determined, let alone what happens to cost sharing and say for pay among other governance and funding matters,” he stated.
Whitewater Region Mayor Mike Moore said more information is needed.
“I was fuming when I heard that,” he said. “I don’t know how they’re going to transpose that because Renfrew County is shy on help during high crisis, high critical times.”
He believes Renfrew County will have to take the lead on this, and Reeve Cathy Regier will have to bring information back to the council table.
“There has to be queries with Toronto, especially when we don’t know how they’re going to compose the new criteria,” Mayor Moore said.
“I know there are times in Renfrew County when there are very few ambulances because they are all busy,” he continued. “If you have a major incident, or perhaps a heart attack, people wonder why it takes so long now to get an ambulance at times.”
There’s also the fear of doing away with the local dispatch, which the Whitewater Region Fire Department uses, the mayor said.
“There’s actually two issues in one,” Mayor Moore said, adding, “And I don’t know if Renfrew County is singular or if there are other municipalities that rely on the ambulance service.”
Reeve Cathy Regier said the county was as surprised as everyone else when the announcement came about regarding the cut to ambulance services. She has yet to talk with anyone from the county, but admitted she will be going to the county office on Tuesday and will get updated on what’s happening.
The announcement from the government was totally unexpected by Renfrew County, said County Warden Jennifer Murphy.
The County of Renfrew has been responsible for the delivery of Paramedic Services since 2001, she said.
The County of Renfrew has made over $10 million in infrastructure investments in support of the delivery of Paramedic Services, Warden Murphy said.
“Our community is disappointed with the lack of regard for municipal partners, particularly with long-standing Paramedic Services programs,” she said.
Municipal governments contribute about $720 million and the province about $580 million to what has been a cost-shared service, although not at a true 50-50 one, Mr. Vanini said.
Previous news that the province was improving dispatch and hospital capacity to receive patients was welcomed as both are the main contributors to ambulance service challenges, he said. MOHLTC is contacting various stakeholder groups with an interest and AMO advised MOHLTC that letters to each of the 52 service managers must go out urgently.
Municipalities, as well as AMO, have many questions regarding this recent announcement, he said.
“We will work to get additional information from the ministry on its decision and approach and what our own next steps might be,” Mr. Vanini said.
Some already know the provincial budget was very clear on its intent to restructure public health — to move from 32 service managers to 10 by 2020/21 and that it will also phase-in an adjustment to the provincial-municipal cost-sharing arrangement for public health, he said, adding, this and some other matters will impact municipal governments in a substantive manner.
The County of Renfrew and other counties are partners with the Province in the delivery of Paramedic Services, and would have expected that the Premier would have respected the municipal partners to consult with them on rural delivery of the municipal service, Warden Murphy said.
The County of Renfrew has been a leader providing paramedic services in Ontario and is a recognized innovator in the development of the Community Paramedicine model within Ontario and internationally, she noted said.
Paramedic Services in Renfrew County is unique in that it delivers emergency services to an area of the province that is recognized as rural and remote, she said.
“Our community was pleased to hear the Premier’s comments that he would be consulting with municipalities and now we are taken aback by the announcement with no consultation with partners,” Warden Murphy stated. “The County of Renfrew continues to be concerned with how Paramedic Services will be governed. A model based on larger geographic areas presumably means less local input into how the service is delivered. This will have an impact on the quality of service in rural Ontario.”
Rural communities, like the County of Renfrew, have more vulnerable and at-risk populations, she stated. The changes to this model will have a negative impact on these populations, she added.
There is no ready information on the government’s plan to implement this restructuring, how it was determined, let alone what happens to cost sharing and say for pay among other governance and funding matters, Warden Murphy said.
Previous news that the province was improving dispatch and improving hospital capacity to receive patients was welcomed as both are the main contributors to ambulance service challenges. The budget identified a reduction of dispatch centres from 22 to 10.
“The County of Renfrew Paramedic Service will continue to focus on delivering excellent and critically important care that our communities deserve, and to keeping our stakeholders informed as more information becomes available,” Warden Murphy stated.
