Over 700 ‘Level Zero’ events so far in Ottawa in 2022
Posted Jul 21, 2022 05:30:00 PM.
Ottawa has experienced over 700 'Level Zero' occurrences so far in the first half of 2022.
According to the Ottawa Paramedic Service, as a result of the ongoing health crisis across the country, the service “is experiencing unprecedented service impacts.”
Ottawa paramedics have seen 725 'Level Zero' events from January to June, meaning there are no paramedics available to respond to emergency calls.
In total for 2021, there were 750 'Level Zero' events.
“The longstanding offload delays incurred at hospitals continue to challenge the Ottawa Paramedic Service, and other cities across Canada, and remain a significant contributor to level zero incidences,” said Pierre Poirier, chief of Ottawa Paramedic Service. “Hospital offload delays impact the service's resources, ability to respond to calls and return to service quickly.”
According to Poirier, since April of 2022 the Ottawa Paramedic Service has experienced a 20 per cent increase in response volumes.
“The increasing incidence of level zero has been an additional burden on the mental health of ambulance communications officers and paramedics,” he added. “The service continues to monitor performance indicators and implement new and existing mitigation measures to reduce offload delays and diminish the incidences of 'Level Zero' by providing patients with safe, alternate care options that help reduce patient transports to emergency departments.”
In 2022 the Ottawa Paramedic Service has hired 28 new staff members to increase service capacity and to meet the demand for service.
