NEWS RELEASE
SIMCOE COUNTY
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MIDHURST – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and during this heightened second wave, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services have been on the frontlines responding to the needs of our residents, communities and partners.
Providing medical care and transport during 9-1-1 calls continues to be the main priority for Paramedic Services; however, during the pandemic Paramedics have expanded their roles and utilized their training and skillset to support our regional pandemic response needs. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Paramedics have been providing assistance with swabbing and patient management needs in congregate settings, such as workplaces, long-term care and seniors services facilities, conducting wellness checks in area shelters, providing emergency transport of COVID-19 positive patients, working with area health-care teams in vaccination clinics and expanding in-home wellness checks through the innovative Community Paramedicine programs. Logistics staff have also extended themselves to support our long-term care homes with PPE management.
“The response of our Paramedic staff to the pandemic has been extraordinary,” said Andrew Robert, Director and Chief, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services. “Their roles are challenging at the best of times and dealing with added pressures of the pandemic, and safety measures of being in close contact with COVID-19 positive patients, has been very tough on their physical and mental health. I am very proud and grateful to them for their efforts, adaptability and drive to support their patients and community. All our front-line staff are thankful for the public support they have received. We greatly appreciate how our partners and communities continue to support one another as we all work to end this pandemic.”
New Funding Support
County of Simcoe Paramedic Services (CSPS) is pleased to have received additional one-time funding in the amount of $456,008 from Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) in relation to the COVID-19 response. This funding will support pandemic activities, such as vaccine administration, existing Community Paramedicine (CP) program expansion and CP education development within Simcoe County. The funding was split between three payments from the Central and North Simcoe Muskoka LHINs and will allow future program growth and sustainability at a crucial time. This funding will be reviewed further by County Council on Feb. 9.
“The support and service of our Paramedics is a cornerstone in our fight against COVID-19 and our eventual recovery,” said Warden George Cornell. “We are immensely grateful to our Paramedics, and we continue to work with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and the Province to ensure that Paramedics are prioritized in the roll out of vaccinations due to their expanded role during this pandemic. We also thank the Province for these additional funds, which will assist the County in providing the necessary increased training, staffing, equipment and administration costs to keep our communities safe.”
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
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