Photo: MBC News File Photo Funding is going up 14 percent bringing its total contribution to $14,304,306 this year. Frontenac County is set to receive a notable boost in provincial ambulance funding this year as Ontario aims to ensure more paramedics are on hand for emergencies. The province is raising land ambulance funding for Frontenac by 14 percent, resulting in a total contribution of $14,304,306 this year. Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP John Jordan emphasized that strong collaborations with local governments play a crucial role in sustaining emergency medical services throughout the riding. The increase for Frontenac surpasses the nine-percent average increase being provided to municipalities across Ontario this year. This funding is meant to assist with operating costs such as staffing, equipment, training, and other necessary resources to keep ambulances available. Ontario will also allocate $547,635 through the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to support nurses and other qualified health professionals who assist ambulance teams in transferring patients at Kingston General Hospital. This initiative aims to enable paramedics to return to their communities sooner instead of waiting at emergency departments after delivering patients to hospitals. Ontario reports that provincial ambulance offload times have decreased by around 68 percent since their peak in October 2022. Jordan stated that this funding will address a well-known issue. Community paramedicine forms another aspect of the province’s strategy. These programs allow some patients to get care without needing hospital transport, which can help alleviate pressure on emergency departments and free up regular ambulances for urgent calls. The province indicates that over $1 billion is allocated for land ambulance services throughout Ontario this year. For residents of Frontenac, the new funding aims at helping paramedics meet growing demand while enhancing ambulance availability across the county and Kingston. Story by Bob Perreault
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