Muskoka Paramedic Services (MPS) will offer enhanced seasonal coverage starting June 29, 2018 ahead of the Canada Day long weekend through to Labour Day. The District Municipality of Muskoka completed a comprehensive review of paramedic resource deployment in Muskoka earlier this year and identified that additional resources are required in the summer months when call volume significantly increases.
“Community safety and access to emergency health services is a significant priority for the District,” said John Klinck. “These new enhanced services in our busy summer months will help ensure residents and visitors to Muskoka have access to the care they need when and where they need it.”
The enhanced services include:
- An additional fully stocked and staffed ambulance that will deploy from Bracebridge to support overall response performance across the District
- A second fully stocked and staffed ambulance that will deploy from Huntsville to support communities in the east end of Muskoka, such as Hillside, Dwight, Dorset, and Baysville in the Township of Lake of Bays.
- Additional 15 temporary contract staff to assist with the increased hours of deployment.
“The enhanced vehicles and hours are a welcomed addition as we experience a 25 per cent increase in requests for service during this time period. MPS appreciates the approval and support of District Council,” said Jeff McWilliam, Chief of Muskoka Paramedic Services. “Working with the Ontario Provincial Police Huntsville Detachment and the Huntsville Lake of Bays Fire Department, we identified locations for paramedics to use while they are deployed in east Muskoka. Both services have generously offered the use of Fire Stations and an OPP Community Policing Office to provide paramedics with the space they need to be able to effectively provide this enhanced seasonal coverage.”
“The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department fully supports the Muskoka Paramedic Services new Deployment Plan and looks forward to working with them to increase the level of service to our community,” said Gary Monahan, Deputy Fire Chief, Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department.
The comprehensive deployment review suggests short, medium and long term recommendations which include vehicle movements throughout the District, balancing emergency vs. non-emergency requests and future facility planning over the next 10 years. Muskoka Paramedic Services is excited and optimistic with respect to these changes and is looking forward to incorporating the anticipated positive results into future planning initiatives.
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Ian Gibbard says
This service has been needed for years. Thanks to all involved.