Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP, Rick Byers, has announced an increase in local funding from the province's Land Ambulance Service Grant.
According to a release from Byers' office, Ontario is investing over $16.5 million in Bruce and Grey counties to "connect people to emergency care faster and increase the availability of ambulances."
Byers says the funding available locally through the Land Ambulance Service Grant has gone up by 6 percent in Bruce County and 4 percent in Grey County this year, bringing the total investment this year to just over $16.4 million.
Additionally, the release from Byers claims that in order to further reduce delays paramedics see when dropping patients off at hospitals, Ontario is investing $54,600 in the County of Grey through the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program (DONP) to help with the costs of offloading ambulance patients in hospital emergency departments.
“The increase to base funding through the Land Ambulance Service Grant will greatly help ensure that patients in our communities can continue to receive excellent ambulance and emergency care,” said MPP Byers.
“When it comes to emergency care, we know time is of the essence and seconds count,” added Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson. “This investment will give our vital front-line emergency care teams even more tools to better treat patients faster and effectively.”
“Bruce County appreciates continued support for Paramedic Services from the Ontario Government," shared Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody. "This funding ensures that the region's residents and visitors continue to receive high-quality and rapid emergency care."
"The Land Ambulance Services Grant ensures Grey County can continue providing residents and visitors with exceptional emergency care as call volumes continue to rise,” Grey County Warden Brian Milne stated.
