Perth County Paramedic Calls Surge Nearly 100% in a Decade

The volume of calls received by paramedics in Perth County is set to nearly double compared to a decade ago, according to a new report from the county’s paramedic chief, Mike Adair. By the end of 2025, paramedics are expected to respond to approximately 11,700 calls, a significant increase from just over 6,000 calls in 2015. This surge in demand has not hindered the paramedics’ ability to meet their response-time targets.

In 2022, Perth County paramedics first recorded more than 10,000 calls, and since then, the numbers have consistently risen. Adair’s report outlines the response-time targets based on the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale, which categorizes calls from urgent to non-urgent. For the most critical emergencies, where vital signs may be absent, the target response time is six minutes or fewer. Notably, in the first half of 2025, paramedics successfully met or exceeded this target in 70 percent of the urgent calls they responded to, surpassing the initial goal of 51 percent.

Improved Shift Management and Hospital Offloading

The report also highlights a remarkable reduction in the time paramedics are required to wait with patients at Stratford General Hospital. The goal for wait times is no more than 30 minutes per patient. In the first half of 2025, paramedics lost a total of eight 12-hour shifts to wait times at the hospital, a significant drop from 34 shifts lost during the same period in 2024. This improvement is attributed to the implementation of a dedicated offload nurse program, part of a broader $33 million initiative funded by the province and introduced across Ontario. However, the program is currently on hold in Stratford while awaiting further funding approval.

Conversely, the report indicates an increase in the hours paramedics have spent waiting at hospitals across Perth County. In the first half of 2025, there were 20 shifts lost due to offload delays, compared to just 25 shifts lost in total during 2024. Projections suggest that paramedics may lose 25 shifts in Stratford and 41 shifts throughout Perth County by the end of this year.

Community Support Initiatives

Additionally, the report details the launch of the Mobile Integrated Health program, which provides non-emergency medical care and referrals to support services. Recently, this program received permanent funding from the province through the Community Paramedicine for Long Term Care programs. The initiative is notable for its extensive outreach, with paramedics making approximately 250 visits monthly and generating around 60 to 70 referrals from system partners each month. Of these, 10 to 20 referrals typically come directly from paramedics when they determine that further intervention or assessment is necessary.

The findings from Adair’s report underscore the resilience and adaptability of Perth County’s paramedics in the face of rising demand for emergency services. As the community continues to grow, these professionals remain committed to maintaining high standards of care and response times despite the challenges presented by increased call volumes.