A Grey County ambulance. (Bayshore Broadcasting file photo)
Grey County is receiving $3.25-million in funding from the Ontario government over the next four years to fund an expanded community paramedicine program.
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Progressive Conservative MPP Bill Walker was joined by Minister of Long-Term Care Dr. Merrilee Fullerton for the virtual funding announcement on Friday.
“Knowing funding will continue to 2024 is great news, but knowing funding is increasing to support more than double our current patient count is fantastic, and a true testament to the value of this service,” says Grey County Warden Selwyn Hicks.
According to a government statement, the initiative leverages the skills of community paramedics to help provide additional care for seniors.
This expansion will focus on seniors on long-term care waitlists by delivering access to non-emergency health services 24/7, through in-home and remote methods. It provides non-emergency home visits, in-home testing, ongoing monitoring of escalating conditions, additional education about healthy living and managing chronic diseases and connections for participants to home care and community supports.
The expectation is the added funding will allow for more than 300 additional patients from the area to be rostered.
“This is terrific news for our local area. Grey County has done excellent work with their Community Paramedicine Program and I’m thrilled by this investment from our government to expand this initiative,” Walker says.
According to Grey County’s Paramedics Services Director Kevin McNab, long-term care patients will gradually be brought onto the program, likely starting as soon as next month.