{"id":183370,"date":"2024-12-22T17:07:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T22:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/?p=183370"},"modified":"2024-12-22T23:12:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T04:12:17","slug":"ontario-investing-in-connecting-northern-and-rural-communities-to-critical-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/ontario-investing-in-connecting-northern-and-rural-communities-to-critical-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario investing in connecting northern and rural communities to critical care"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From the province of Ontario<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, the Ontario government announced an investment of $93 million to expand Ornge Air Ambulance\u2019s fleet by adding two larger, high-speed fixed-wing aircraft, constructing a new hangar in Simcoe County, and improving pre-hospital care. This investment will ensure Ornge Air Ambulance service can better connect people in northern and rural communities to the care they need when they need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur government recognizes the critical role Ornge plays in providing patients with timely access to critical care services, no matter where they live in Ontario,\u201d said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. \u201cThrough another record investment in Ornge, our government is continuing to make it faster for Ontarians to connect to the care they need, when they need it, for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two new, high speed, Special Mission Aircraft can travel longer distances without the need to refuel, enabling Ornge to complete four long-distance transports per day, double the amount completed by Ornge\u2019s smaller planes. These aircraft are also able to transport patients with specialized care needs such as neonatal, paediatric, and bariatric patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new aircraft will be housed in a newly constructed hangar at the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport in Simcoe County. This new hangar will help better coordinate emergency care to ensure Ontarians receive the high-quality care they deserve across the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe addition of a Special Mission Aircraft to our fleet will significantly enhance Ornge\u2019s ability to respond to various emergency situations and stakeholder needs in Ontario,\u201d said Dr. Homer Tien, President and CEO of Ornge. \u201cThis larger, faster aircraft will be versatile to support ultra-long distance transport of critically ill\/injured patients and multi-patient, cargo and passenger configurations to best serve the mission at hand, anywhere in Ontario. This is another resource for Ornge to help us deliver on our mandate of improving health equity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These new aircraft and hangar are in addition to the $118 million investment announced in 2023 to expand Ornge\u2019s fixed wing fleet to 12 aircraft, including the replacement of the existing eight fixed wing fleet, and purchase of a larger hangar in Sudbury to house the new aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to expanding Ornge\u2019s fleet of aircraft, as part of this investment, Ontario is providing Ornge with a further $25 million to hire more frontline staff to improve pre-hospital care and better serve Indigenous communities. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n