Motion M2014-006

Ambulance Service

Health care services, including emergency care services, are an important factor in the wellbeing of a community.

Motion M2014-006

Whereas the Denbigh area is almost one hour away from the nearest hospital

and Whereas the County of Lennox and Addington in 2011 reduced ambulance coverage to twelve hours per day

and Whereas the county staff has recommended that the Denbigh ambulance base be closed

and Whereas it is likely that the county staff will resume their efforts to close the base

and Whereas the Denbigh base serves people in Renfrew, Frontenac and Hastings counties

and Whereas the County of Lennox and Addington has unilaterally removed ambulance service from the surrounding counties

and Whereas an ambulance based in Northbrook has a best response time of 30 minutes

and Whereas an ambulance based in Northbrook has a best time to hospital of 75 minutes

and whereas the Ministry of Health determined in 1982 that the Denbigh area required ambulance service

and Whereas the Denbigh community ran a successful volunteer ambulance service from 1982 until the ambulance service was downloaded to the county in the early 2000s

and Whereas the Ministry of Health determined that the Denbigh-Northbrook region had sufficient health care needs to establish a Family Health Team

and Whereas the Land of Lakes Family Health Team now has a clinic in Denbigh

and Whereas an area that has sufficient health care needs for a family health team will also have sufficient need for and ambulance service

and Whereas the need for ambulance service is no less than it was in 1982

and Whereas ambulance service in Ontario should be seamless

and Whereas the County of Lennox and Addington was unjustified in removing ambulance service from the surrounding counties

and Whereas the Ministry of Labour regulates health and safety in the workplace

and Whereas the Ministry of Health similarly provided health and safety in the Denbigh area by supporting an ambulance service

and Whereas the removal of ambulance service by the County of Lennox and Addington unjustifiably degrades the health and safety of people in the Denbigh area

now therefore be it Resolved

that a committee be struck to report back on the desirability of forming a Denbigh Area Ambulance Society whose purpose would be to restore full ambulance service to the four county Denbigh area

and be it further resolved that the committee report back on the possibility of requesting that the Minister of Health use Section 4 of the Ambulance Act to create a Denbigh Area Ambulance service

and be it further resolved that the committee report back on the possibility of implementing a community run medical transport service

and be it further resolved that the committee report back on the possibility of enhancing the services provided by the fire department First Responders.

Motion carried ( 2/3 majority )