By Darryl Knight, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Standard Newspaper

At a recent council meeting, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service (KLPS) outlined how they are preparing for 2026 with a renewed focus on getting emergency care to residents as quickly as possible, even as 911 call volumes continue to rise.

At the Tuesday, August 26 City Council meeting, Deputy Chief Jamie Golden presented the service's Response Time Performance Plan, outlining the benchmarks for how quickly paramedics respond to urgent medical calls, including sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other high-priority emergencies.

"Every second counts when someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest or severe trauma," Mr. Golden told councillors. "Our goal is to ensure the people of Kawartha Lakes get rapid, professional care when they need it most."

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

The service is already exceeding some targets. In 2024, paramedics reached SCA patients within six minutes nearly 40% of the time, which is well above the provincial target of 25%. Response times for other emergency calls, measured using the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), are also being closely monitored, with targets set for CTAS levels 1 through 5.

Several initiatives have helped the service improve response times despite rising demand. The addition of four full-time paramedics last year increased coverage in Lindsay, while deployment strategies, such as mobile ambulance posts and reallocating crews to high-demand areas, allow for faster response across the municipality.

Innovative hospital and community programs are also making a difference. The Designated Offload Nurse Program helps paramedics transition patients quickly from ambulances to emergency departments, reducing delays. Meanwhile, the Fit2Sit program in partnership with Ross Memorial Hospital ensures patients who do not require urgent care can be safely treated or monitored without tying up emergency resources. The Community Paramedic Program further supports residents through home visits, preventative care, and follow-ups, reducing repeat emergency calls.

"Working closely with our hospital and community partners allows us to serve residents more efficiently and safely," said KLPS Chief Sara Johnston. "We're always looking for ways to improve response times and ensure the community has access to quality care when it matters most."

Mayor Doug Elmslie emphasized the importance of these efforts. "Paramedics are often the first, and sometimes the only lifeline for people in emergencies. It's reassuring to know that our service is not only meeting provincial targets but exceeding them in critical cases."

Looking ahead, KLPS plans to continue to monitor performance monthly, reviewing call volumes, response times, and patient outcomes. With the provincial rollout of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), the service expects new dispatch protocols to further improve efficiency.

ONTARIO NOW NEWSLETTER Get our free new weekly newsletter

Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request.

There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.

Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from thepeterboroughexaminer.com.

You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply.

ONTARIO NOW NEWSLETTER You're signed up! You'll start getting Ontario Now in your inbox soon.

Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.