STAFF REPORT

January 25, 2000

To: Community Services Committee

From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Subject: Greater Toronto Services Board Recommendation and Ambulance Dispatch Options

Purpose:

To inform City Council of the recommendation arising out of the Greater Toronto Services Board with respect to examining ambulance dispatch options within the Greater Toronto Area.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that: this report be received for information.

Background:

At its meeting on Friday, January 21, 2000, the Greater Toronto Services Board Best Practices Committee discussed issues pertaining to the co-ordination of ambulance dispatch services and systems within the Greater Toronto Area. This issue is related to Clause 2 of Best Practices Committee Report Number 3, which the Board at its meeting of June 25, 1999, received a motion from Mayor Don Cousens of Markham and Councillor Howard Moscoe of the City of Toronto with respect to the delivery of ambulance services within the Greater Toronto Area.

The responsibility for land ambulance service resides with Upper Tier Municipalities within the Province of Ontario. Within the Greater Toronto Area, the City of Toronto declared responsibility for land ambulance services on January 1, 1998, and the regions of Durham, York and Halton assumed responsibility on January 1, 2000. The Region of Peel will be taking similar steps to assume responsibility within the next 6-12 months. The definition of land ambulance services encompasses the responsibility for the direct provision of pre-hospital health services and all related support functions. With the exception of the City of Toronto, the responsibility for the direct management of dispatch services is managed and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Emergency Health Services Branch. The City of Toronto operates the dispatch centre and is funded 100% of all operating and capital costs by the province.

With the assumption of responsibility for land ambulance service by regions within the Greater Toronto Area, discussions have been underway through AMO and the Ministry of Health regarding the management of dispatch services. It is the contention of regional municipalities surrounding the Toronto area that in order for them to effectively manage their land ambulance resources in terms of performance, response time and economic efficiency they must have direct control over their dispatch functions.

The Greater Toronto Area can be characterized as an integrated health service district. Ambulance services from all regions and cities within the GTA intersect boundaries on a daily basis for both emergency and non-emergency related calls. Ambulance services within the regions surrounding the City of Toronto are co-ordinated by 3 separate dispatch locations operating out of Oshawa, Mississauga and Barrie. The region of Durham is co-ordinated from the Oshawa Central Ambulance Communication Centre. The region of York is co-ordinated in part by the Oshawa, Barrie and Mississauga CACC. The regions of Peel and Halton are co-ordinated from the Mississauga CACC. All ambulance related activity within the City of Toronto is co-ordinated through the Toronto CACC operated by Toronto Ambulance.

The recommendation arising out of the GTSB Best Practices meeting provides representatives from the GTA ambulance services with the opportunity to examine alternatives in providing dispatch services for the Greater Toronto Area. The task force is to report back within 90 days and to offer an opinion concerning whether or not the existing configuration should remain, each region to operate their own separate ambulance dispatch centre and/or determine if a single GTA-wide ambulance dispatch centre has merit. These suggestions will then be reviewed at the regional level, with recommendations made to the respective Councils.

Once all options have been reviewed a report will be forwarded to the Community Services Committee for information.

Conclusions:

It is appropriate for member municipalities within the Greater Toronto Area to examine opportunities for efficiency and improved service. The purpose of the task force will be to explore options based on cost, program efficiency and clinical effectiveness.

Contact:

Ronald L. Kelusky, General Manager

Phone: 397-9240

Fax: 392-2115

Ronald L. Kelusky

General Manager, Toronto Ambulance Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

RLK/sm