On Air Now Dan Henry More FM Nights 8:00pm - Midnight
Now Playing Tragically Hip Fifty-Mission Cap

Local MPP Pushing the Province to Relieve Pressures on Paramedics

Wayne Gates says paramedics in Ontario are under-resourced.

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates is urging the province to increase emergency personnel resources. 

At Queens Park today, the MPP shared a story about a Fort Erie senior who pressed her "lifeline" button after falling, and was told she would have to wait six hours for an ambulance. 

"On July 26, a senior named Shirley who lives in Fort Erie had a fall in her home. Injured and alone, she pressed her Lifeline alert button. Ten minutes later, she received a call from Lifeline, who informed her they were told she would not get an ambulance for six hours," he said.

Gates says while workers are doing their best, the Ford government needs to add more resources for paramedics and health care in general.

The MPP also says he brought up the issue earlier this year, and paramedics are still over-worked and are facing insufficient resources. 

He is also critical of the Niagara EMS program that is dispatching taxis rather than ambulances in some instances, saying taxi drivers should not be responding to emergency calls. 

The program was launched to relieve pressure on paramedics and emergency rooms.  
 

More from Local News