The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, July 1, 2016 | 8 Halton paramedics are busier but still make the grade by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Despite a 2014-15 hike of 5.5 per cent in call volumes and 4.4 per cent in patients transported, Halton paramedics continue to meet response time targets set out by Halton Regional council. Hospital offload delays were also slightly reduced in 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, according to a Paramedic Services Division Annual Update report released June 14. "The Region is committed to ensuring Halton residents receive timely emergency responses and high-quality care when they need it most," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr in a June 24 press release. Response-time standards are based on the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) level between 1-5, assigned to each patient by a paramedic based on his/her medical condition upon departure from the scene or post treatment. CTAS Level 1 patients are the most ill while CTAS Level 5 patients are the least ill, the report states. The target time from when the call is received until the paramedic is on the scene range from eight to 25 minutes, depending on the CTAS level. Over a 10-year time frame, emergency and non-emergency call volumes have increased Halton Region Chair Gary Carr 47.6 per cent in Halton -- from 29,054 in 2006 to 42,881 in 2015 -- the report revealed. The number of patients transported over the same 10-year period has increased 45.5 per cent -- from 19,222 to 27,959. In 2015, the Region handled 2,217 more calls and transported 1,175 more patients than in 2014. Calls to 911 from Halton residents have increased every year for the past seven years, showing an increased demand for emergency Halton Paramedic Services Chief Greg Sage care in the region, a Halton Region press release states. "The primary drivers for increased call volumes are population and employment growth, along with the impact of an aging population," it stated. "To ensure the Region is prepared to address the various pressures related to providing paramedic services, Halton Regional council approved the Paramedic Services 10-Year Master Plan in 2015." The 10-year master plan outlines several measures Halton Region is taking to enhance the level of emergency care available to residents, including: · maintaining the existing population to paramedic staffing ratio; · enhancing technology to ensure the Paramedic Services division has the tools to remain responsive and efficient; · approval to begin construction on two new paramedic stations: Southwest Oakville Station on Rebecca Street and East Milton Station on Fifth Line, south of Derry Road; · continually working with local hospitals, neighbouring paramedic services, the Central Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC), the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care (MOHLTC) and community partners. Regional council is lobbying the MOHLTC to help address long-standing concerns it has about the CACC and its operations. Carr said in a committee meeting on June 14, the provincial government needs to get its act together to upgrade the outdated ambulance dispatch service it's providing for Halton and Peel. To view the Paramedic Services Division Annual Update (Report No. MO-17-16), visit halton.ca/agendas. For more about Halton Region's Paramedic Services, visit halton.ca/paramedic. Enjoy refreshments W NG! O N KI O BO Games & Prizes Celebrating Cruise Holidays of Oakville's new location Booking Incentives JULY 10 1 - 3 PM 267 Lakeshore Road East Lola & Georges Vassiliadis, along with Anne Marie, Ann, Karen & Rosemary invite you to help us celebrate our beautiful new office. Be transported to Europe without leaving Oakville. We're very proud of our new location and are thrilled to show it off. Drop by and see what all the fuss is about! Free Parking And maybe a surprise or two! We look forward to welcoming you on the 10th. SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 2, 2016 INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, MISSISSAUGA For more information or to book space contact Lisa Melander 289-293-0714 or lisa.melander@metroland.com CRUISE HOLIDAYS OAKVILLE 267 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville (905) 337-2228 www.cruiseholidaysoakville.com www.nationalbridalshow.com