Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker hosted a Zoom conference this morning with Minister of Long-Term Care, Merrilee Fullerton, to announce the unveiling of the Grey County Paramedicine Program.
Fullerton says from 2015-2019, waiting lists for long-term care beds grew by over 11,000 in Ontario, and paramedicine programs are crucial to help seniors be able to stay at home and receive 24/7 care. Fullerton says back in October, the province launched a 100 percent provincially funded paramedicine program, and it will now launch in Grey County.
"Building upon Grey County's existing programs, Ontario's Community Paramedicine Program will provide additional, appropriate care for Grey County seniors in the comfort of their homes. Care delivered through this program includes 24/7 access to non-emergency health services."
On top of that access, Fullerton says seniors will also have access to a number of other key features of the program, which is designed to help seniors be more independent and stay in their homes longer.
"Non-emergency home visits and in-home testing are included, and in collaboration with our health system partners, the program will help monitor conditions to prevent or reduce emergency incidents, support healthy living and manage chronic diseases."
In October of last year, the provincial government unveiled the 100 percent provincially funded paramedicine program, with 20 million dollars committed for this fiscal year. The Grey County Paramedicine program is funded through 2024, and Bruce County also recently launched a pilot version of the program.
Fullerton adds that the programs are not only designed to ease waiting lists and immediate needs for long-term care beds, but it will help ease pressure on many healthcare workers province wide, and in this case specifically in Grey County.
"So in addition the program will compliment home care, primary care and community care to help ease the capacity strain on hospitals. So this community paramedicine program is a very integrated program."
For additional context, see the article here on Blackburn News regarding the Bruce County Community Paramedicine pilot project: https://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/2021/02/01/county-implements-community-paramedicine-program/