Ontario Delivering More Convenient and Connected Care in York Region
Local investments connect people to paramedics and ambulance services faster
NEWMARKET — The Ontario government is making investments in York Region to connect local residents and families to faster, more convenient public health services and emergency care in their communities.
“Our government is strengthening all aspects of the health care system, and these investments in York Region are another important step we are taking to connect people to care closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By building a stronger public health system and ensuring quicker access to emergency care, people in the region will see real improvements in the care they receive, as we continue to build a better health system for years to come.”
To connect people to emergency care faster and increase the availability of paramedics and ambulances, Ontario is increasing land ambulance funding for York Region by over seven per cent, bringing the province’s total investment in the region this year to over $50.4 million.
“This funding is fantastic news for Thornhill residents, and for York Region as a whole,” said MPP Laura Smith, Thornhill. “Our Public Health Units are a crucial part of our healthcare system and are an important pillar of support in keeping Ontarians connected to healthcare, close to home. This over $10 million top-up funding will help further reduce the strain on hospitals and ensure our residents get care sooner, with fewer complications.”
To help reduce delays paramedics encounter dropping off patients at a hospital, Ontario is investing nearly $2.4 million in York Region to allow nurses and other eligible health care providers to be hired and dedicated to the smooth and timely offloading of ambulance patients in hospitals. This will allow paramedics to get back out into the community faster and respond to calls. The funding is part of the province’s investment of an additional $51 million in the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program over the next three years to help municipalities cover around 800,000 dedicated hours to support offloading ambulance patients in the emergency department.
“With the Your Health plan, our government continues to make it easier for residents and families to access care closer to home, including right here in Newmarket-Aurora and in York Region as a whole,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. “These local investments build on the bold and innovative actions taken to date and make sure our communities in the region will continue to have the health care they need now and into the future.”
Ontario is also providing funding of nearly $65 million this year in York Region to help local public health providers cover increased costs, allowing them to focus on building a robust local public health sector that provides more convenient access to public health services that protect and promote the health and well-being of the community.
With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government continues to take action to strengthen the health care system so that it is responsive and evolving to meet the health needs and priorities of people living in Ontario, no matter where they live.
Quick Facts
- The province is providing all local public health units an annual one per cent funding increase over the next three years so they can more effectively plan ahead and prepare.
- Provincial funding for local public health agencies to support the delivery of public health programs and services has increased by approximately 16 per cent since 2018.
- This year, 30 municipalities – up from 27 last year – are receiving Dedicated Offload Nurses Program funding to support offloading in their communities.
- Nearly 200 patient care models being led by more than 50 paramedic services across the province are now approved to provide appropriate and timely care options for eligible 9-1-1 patients in the community instead of in the emergency department. This includes the seven approved patient care models being led by the York Region Paramedic Service.