Paramedics provide much more than ambulances

A presentation from Nathan Dudley of the Quinte Paramedic Services to the July CARP meeting July 14 both impressed and surprised the capacity audience in the Seniors Plus room of the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre. His key message stressed the service’s expansion in recent years to home care. Dudley stressed it is a “free [...]

Article content A presentation from Nathan Dudley of the Quinte Paramedic Services to the July CARP meeting July 14 both impressed and surprised the capacity audience in the Seniors Plus room of the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre. His key message stressed the service’s expansion in recent years to home care. Dudley stressed it is a “free service,” funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

Access to the service is by referral from any other health involved agency or by self referral. He explained how paramedics are already fully trained in first aid and primary care, such as ECVs, blood samples, blood pressure etc. and the extension of such into home care is designed to assist in prevention of serious problems to help avoid ambulance and other 911 calls and hospital emergency visits at a time when hospital facilities are stressed out. Recommended Videos While CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons) members of the Greater Bay of Quinte Chapter were pleased at the new service, some had concerns about too much overlap of health services and a lack of control of such.

Dudley agreed with the criticism but stuck to the value of the new service for his agency and suggested that efforts are under way to better coordinate the various agencies. Telephone and internet contact information is available at the paramedic website, he said, including calls for self referral. He also stressed use of 911 in case of a perceived emergency like chest pains or breathing problems and other unusual symptoms.

There were also questions about service time delays, especially in rural areas. He explained how the system works and that sometimes the nearest ambulance station is fully occupied, but any ambulance on the road can be assigned to take over a call, including an ambulance from another jurisdiction, like Kingston or Cobourg passing through the area. Most of the members were pleased to know about the added service and expected to make use of it.

Chapter leader Louise Warr reminded that the Quinte area branch is now one of Ontario’s largest, covering an area from Brighton to Campbellford, east to Napanee and all of Prince Edward County. She said one does not have to be a member to attend any of the second Tuesday afternoon meetings at 2 p.m. in the Sports and Wellness Centre.