Some new equipment is on the way for Hastings-Quinte paramedics.
The Hastings-Quinte Emergency Services committee approved a motion on Wednesday morning to purchase six new ambulances for next year.
Hastings County currently has a replacement schedule for ambulances that sees them require an average of five new vehicles a year.
Paramedic Chief Doug Socha told the committee in his report, the sixth Crestliner ambulance is to support the service enhancement that came into effect June 1 this year, which will expand the fleet from 16 to 17 ambulances to support current operations.
As part of this recommendation one of the ambulances is being ordered on behalf of Prince Edward County and the cost of this ambulance will be recuperated from Prince Edward County.
The cost for the six new vehicles is $926,250, with $154,375 of that being paid for by Prince Edward County and Hastings County covering the remaining $771,875.
The committee also approved a motion to enter into negotiations with Stryker to supply 25 Lifepak15 V4 monitor/defibrillators to the emergency service.
Socha told the committee the request for proposals was for 22 defibrillators, but the contract will be issued for 25 based on the current needs of the department.
He said 23 of the defibrillators will be owned by Hastings County and the other two will be purchased and owned by Prince Edward County.
The cost is $21,188.24 plus HST per defibrillator, which includes trade-in value for the old defibrillators.
