Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Services

Operating


Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service

What we do

Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service provides patient-focused emergency medical care throughout Guelph and Wellington County.

When someone calls 911, responding paramedics assess the patient to determine if the person needs treatment onsite or treatment and transport via an ambulance to the most appropriate medical facility for the individual’s medical condition.

As well, through the Community Paramedicine program, paramedics apply their training and skills beyond the traditional role of emergency response by delivering programs that improve the lives of seniors and mitigate emergencies before they happen.

Delivering the paramedic service in an efficient manner is done within provincial legislation and standards set by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Why we do it

Aligning with the City’s strategic priority of Building Our Future, the Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service provides excellence in patient care—helping to enhance community well-being and safety. This is achieved through strategic planning, efficient deployment of resources, direct service and program delivery, and by working with local, regional, and provincial healthcare partners.

2021 to 2024+ initiatives

  • Address ongoing issues with the global pandemic, ensuring that we are responding appropriately and have the supplies, equipment and practices to address this emergency and future similar health emergencies.
  • Continue to implement the Guelph-Wellington Paramedic Service Master Plan (2018-2022) to prepare for future growth.
  • Continue to focus on improving paramedic stations in the city and county.
  • Improve inventory management processes.
  • Coordinate with external partners to maximize services provided to the community in as efficient manner as possible.

Budget details

Operating budget—Revenues and expenses

2021 budget impacts

$435,810 or 6.3% net increase in 2021 budget due to:

  • $288,550 increase in external recoveries from the County of Wellington due to funding 50 per cent of approved paramedic shift expansion in Rockwood, and 50 per cent of a proposed dispatch service contract, as well as sharing proportionately in base operating costs allocated on the current City/County call volume split being 63%/37%.
  • $198,100 increase in grant revenue from the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care which includes capital amortization, and a one per cent inflation assumption. Confirmation of this funding increase has not yet been received from the Ministry.
  • $123,500 increase in compensation related to inflationary pressures.
  • $604,500 increase in compensation and materials from the proposed shift expansion in Rockwood; offset by $239,280 from the Tax Operating Contingency Reserve to fund the City’s cost of the one year delay in revenue from the Ministry. A further $224,700 of revenue (as already mentioned and included above) from the County of Wellington funds this expansion.
  • $19,200 net increase due to lease commitment for the new downtown Gordon Street paramedic station (previously located on Delhi Street).
  • $46,600 increase for the proposed paramedic dispatch data service.
  • $337,100 increase in internal charges due to:
    • $349,600 increase in program support costs for insurance, and corporate support such as finance and human resources offset by $74,000 savings in fuel and maintenance cost.
    • $51,900 increase in transfer to capital reserve fund which is a direct transfer of the increased Ministry revenue for capital amortization.
    • $59,400 increase related to the paramedic proportionate share of a proposed temporary IT business analyst shared between Transit and Paramedic Services.

2022 to 2024 budget impacts

$1,574,289 net budget increase from 2022 to 2024 mainly due to:

  • Paramedic service enhancements totaling a net budget increase of $315,800 to provide an additional 12-hour shift in Centre Wellington in 2022 resulting in the addition of four paramedics, an addition of two supervisors for the Erin Station in 2023, and one administration position in 2024 as outlined in the Paramedic Master Plan.
  • The balance of the increase is related to inflationary cost pressures.

Budget request

  • BR 787—Paramedics Master Plan
  • BR 793—Dispatch Data Service