Sault hiring more paramedics as calls for service spike
Sault Ste. Marie's social services board has approved a plan to hire 10 new paramedics. The move is in response to a sharp increase in the number of calls to the city's paramedic services in recent months.
Robert Rushworth, chief of paramedic services, said he hasn't seen this much of an increase in calls for the service in the last 20 years. He said it's a trend being seen everywhere, with a number of factors driving it.
"There's the mental health side of it, there's the opioid crisis, there's the need for medical care in the community, there is limited resources, we have the one emergency department," said Rushworth. He said the 10 paramedics will be hired at a cost of roughly $1.3 million.
Doesn't fully address problem
City Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth, who is also a registered nurse, said she applauds hiring more paramedics. But, Hollingsworth said it doesn't address the whole problem -- namely a lack of resources in hospital emergency rooms.
"How many staff members do they have? Do they have the capacity to accept these patients from the paramedics? You might be overloading again the ER with more patients coming," she said.
She said a short-staffed emergency room poses problems for paramedics, since they can't simply drop off the patient and go to another call.
"It could take a half an hour, it could take an hour or more," she said. "Basically that paramedic cannot go to another call until that patient is in the care of the emergency room staff member."
Hollingsworth is calling on the Ministry of Health to provide more support to overwhelmed hospital emergency departments. For his part, Rushworth said the new paramedics will provide relief to current staff who have had a particularly busy summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario coroner to investigate death of man who suffered cardiac arrest while waiting in ER
A provincial coroner will be investigating the death of 68-year-old David Lippert, who suffered a cardiac arrest while waiting in a crowded emergency room in Kitchener, Ont.
BREAKING Toronto mayor hints that WNBA team is coming to the city, marking the first franchise in Canada
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow says that she is hopeful an announcement could be made soon amid multiple reports that a WNBA team is coming to Toronto in 2026.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.