The backlash continues against proposed changes and cuts to paramedic and ambulance services across the province.
Premier Doug Ford is considering a series of mergers that would reduce the number of paramedic services in Ontario from 52 to 10. The NDP claims the move would put rural communities at risk because centralization of services could mean that ambulances will have to come from further away and could mean that there are fewer ambulances for already under-served rural areas. The New Democrats added it could also mean longer waits in emergency situations that could have deadly consequences.
However, Chatham-Kent Fire Chief Bob Crawford, who oversees the area's contracted paramedic service, doesn't believe the changes would affect our area too much if they go through.
"I see nothing that's going to change in their commitment and their abilities. It's going to continue to be a highly competent paramedic service," Crawford said.
Crawford said it's business as usual for local paramedics until more information comes out.
"On the street in terms of response, I don't see anything right now that's going to shift anything like that. We're not reducing the number of paramedics," the chief added.
Crawford doesn't think the changes to dispatch will apply here because the management of dispatching of ambulances is overseen in Toronto.
"It's contracted by the Ministry of Health and Longterm Care. The actual manager is Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. So, we're already working in a situation where the management of our dispatch is not here in Chatham-Kent, it is out of Toronto," said Crawford.
Chief Crawford said he's not sure if the proposed legislation would apply to outsourced paramedic services or just municipally-run services because there are a lot of details that haven't come out yet, but he's watching closely.
