Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service sets 2026 response goals amid rising 911 calls

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: At a recent council meeting, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service (KLPS) outlined how they are preparing for 2026, with a renewed focus on getting emergency care to residents as quickly as possible, even as 911 call volumes continue to rise.

At the Tuesday, August 26th City Council meeting, Deputy Chief Jamie Golden presented the service’s Response Time Performance Plan, outlining the benchmarks for how quickly paramedics respond to urgent medical calls, including sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and other high-priority emergencies.

“Every second counts when someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest or severe trauma,” Mr. Golden told councillors. “Our goal is to ensure the people of Kawartha Lakes get rapid, professional care when they need it most.”

The service is already exceeding some targets. In 2024, paramedics reached SCA patients within six minutes, nearly 40 percent of the time, well above the provincial target of 25 percent. Response times for other emergency calls, measured using the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), are also being closely monitored, with targets set for CTAS levels 1 through 5.

Several initiatives have helped the service improve response times, despite rising demand. The addition of four full-time paramedics, last year, increased coverage in Lindsay, while deployment strategies, such as mobile ambulance posts and reallocating crews to high-demand areas, allow for faster response across the municipality.

Innovative hospital and community programs are also making a difference. The Designated Offload Nurse Program helps paramedics transition patients quickly from ambulances to emergency departments, reducing delays. Meanwhile, the Fit2Sit program, in partnership with Ross Memorial Hospital, ensures patients, who do not require urgent care, can be safely treated or monitored without tying up emergency resources. The Community Paramedic Program further supports residents through home visits, preventative care, and follow-ups, reducing repeat emergency calls.

“Working closely with our hospital and community partners allows us to serve residents more efficiently and safely,” said, KLPS Chief, Sara Johnston. “We’re always looking for ways to improve response times and ensure the community has access to quality care when it matters most.” Mayor Doug Elmslie emphasized the importance of these efforts. “Paramedics are often the first, and sometimes the only lifeline, for people in emergencies. It’s reassuring to know our service is not only meeting provincial targets but exceeding them in critical cases.”

Looking ahead, KLPS plans to continue to monitor performance monthly, reviewing call volumes, response times, and patient outcomes. With the provincial rollout of the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), the service expects new dispatch protocols to further improve efficiency.