People deserve answers on paramedic staffing

Re: Arbitration baffling, says EMS boss, July 18.

I fully agree with the director of emergency medical services for Prescott-Russell who warns of the dangers to his residents when paramedics must leave their county (and leave their residents uncovered for medical emergencies) to respond to emergencies in Ottawa.

When the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care tabled its report on the use of Prescott-Russell’s paramedics in Ottawa, ministry investigators issued several orders for the Ottawa Paramedic Service.

But investigators didn’t point out the single factor behind Prescott-Russell’s loss of coverage and Ottawa’s own need to rely on surrounding communities on a daily basis. It’s quite simple: lack of appropriate paramedic staffing in Ottawa.

Citizens of this city must demand answers from Mayor Jim Watson and city councillors on why staffing challenges resulting from increasing volume of calls are at best given token increases in staffing or, more often than not, ignored completely.

It is never a good course of action to wait until you or a loved one requires emergency medical care before making this point to our mayor and city councillors. It is paramount to increase paramedic staffing now. J.P. Trottier, retired paramedic/ public information officer, Nepean