Emergency response times in Waterloo Region are about the same as last year, but the number of ambulance calls is up, according to a presentation to regional council Tuesday.
EMS officials were at council to present a report on response times as well as their master plan to reduce them.
The report states that by the middle of this year, ambulances had gone out on 23,855 calls with an average response time of 9 minutes and 43 seconds.
The same period in 2015 saw 22,472 calls with an average response time of 9 minutes and 58 seconds.
That means the number of calls went up 6.2 per cent, while response times decreased 2.5 per cent year over year.
The shifting demographic of those calling for help in an emergency is a major challenge in servicing the community, according to officials.
“We have an aging population and population growth,” said Chief of Paramedic Services for the Region of Waterloo, Stephen Van Valkenburg.
Van Valkenburg said 13 per cent of the population is 65 and older, and they account for about 43 per cent of call volume.
And the population is aging. Van Valkenburg said the number of people in that 65-and-older age range is expected to double in the next 15 years.
“We’ll have to add some additional resources to meet that call volume and demand,” he said.
Officials said they will need more ambulances, better technology, and programs to divert some unnecessary calls.
“Everyone can always be better,” Van Valkenburg said. “It’s a balance of resources and call volumes and utilization rates and that’s what we're working towards.”
Right now, there are 21 ambulances servicing Waterloo Region during peak hours.
The report presented to council Tuesday suggests that number should increase by three.
Any decision on adding ambulances wouldn’t come until budget time.
With reporting from Marc Venema
