Renfrew Paramedics working in emergency rooms due to ambulance offload delays

Hospitals in Renfrew County are experiencing ambulance offload delays never before seen in the area, and it's forcing local paramedics to get creative.

Chief Paramedic and Director of Emergency Services for Renfrew County Mike Nolan tells CityNews, Ottawa Valley paramedics are often called to respond to incidents in Ottawa, when there's no staff available in the city, and they often idle there for hours. 

But with offload delays now hitting hospitals in the Valley as well, Nolan says paramedics are being forced to create somewhat of a secondary emergency room.

“We have paramedics now going in and working in the emergency departments,” he said.

Nolan adds that a provincial rule has ambulances from surrounding areas going into Ottawa when needed has helped alleviate some offload and service issues in the city, but he wishes there could be more discretion used in many circumstances because it leaves his paramedics stretched thin.

“When we hear code four, from Arnprior to the Rideau Centre, there's certainly a point of ridiculousness there.”

As the rule stands, Nolan explains, a paramedic team can't be called off, even if a closer team is going to be free and could be at a scene sooner.

“[We shouldn't be] asking paramedics to drive from Cornwall to Barrhaven, knowing full well that you're going to have a crew be released from offload delay at the Queensway Carleton, for example, in the next few minutes.”