It looks like the cost of emergency services in Hastings County, Belleville and Quinte West will take a jump this year.
At its meeting Wednesday, Hastings-Quinte Emergency Services Committee approved a budget of $9.4 million.
It showed a 1.4 % hike but with a 24/7 vehicle, and eight new staff it came to a 9.1% increase.
The capital budget includes five ambulances and plans for a new base in Central Hastings.
That base depends on what comes out of the consultations now underway with the provincial government.
Mayor of Centre Hastings Tom Deline made it clear to the committee that the new base is very much needed in his community.
Chief of Paramedic Services Doug Socha tells Quinte News they continue to see an aging population in the area that requires more medical support. He quoted statistics that show a 27% increase in older adults by 2024.
“Right now, what we’ve asked the hospital is that if it’s a non-emergency call that doesn’t need to go right away, that they call our paramedic superintendent. In that way there’s a clinical decision conversation between the charge nurse, physician and our superintendent. We can look at what the patients’ needs are, where they need to get to.”
He noted there was a 5.4% hike in emergency inter-facility calls and a decrease in non-emergency calls.
Socha also pointed to the need to support paramedics who are suffering from PTSD.
The budget goes to Hastings County Council for approval at the end of February.
