GUELPH – The City of Guelph is set to get some serious coin from the province to go towards ambulance services.
Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced the city will receive $13.8 million through the province’s Land Ambulance Service Grant and $306,000 from the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program (DONP).
The city of Guelph administers ambulance services for the city and Wellington County through the Guelph Wellington Paramedic Services (GWPS).
When reached by phone, GWPS chief Stephen Dewar wasn’t able to share much about the funding as he learned about it second-hand from Rae’s announcement in Perth County. He has reached out to the Ministry of Health but hasn’t heard anything since.
“I can say that we’re really enthusiastic about getting the funding and we’re looking forward to being able to hear the news officially,” Dewar said.
He explained GWPS had put in funding for an offload nurse, a dedicated person to take care of patients who otherwise would not be able to leave the care of paramedics and therefore the ambulance would remain stuck at the hospital, also known as an offload delay.
There was funding for this position previously and the hospital filled the position as of January, Dewar said, and he was hopeful this announcement meant the position will continue to be funded.
Offload delays were a recurring problem in 2022 and 2023 at Guelph General Hospital before the issue cooled in the summer of 2023.
Rae’s release said provincial ambulance offload times have been reduced by more than 50 per cent since its peak in October 2022.