Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service shows strong performance amid growing demand

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: Paramedics in Kawartha Lakes are keeping pace with rising call volumes, while maintaining strong response times, according to the 2025 Operational Key Performance Indicators (O-KPIs) report, presented to Council, on Tuesday, March 10th.

Last year, paramedics responded to more than 14,000 patient calls, or, roughly one call every 37 minutes. Despite the increase in demand, the service met or exceeded all response time targets.

“The 2025 results reflect the commitment and professionalism of our paramedics and support staff, who serve the community every day,” said Paramedic Chief Sara Johnston. “As we look ahead, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead of us, like the new Paramedic Headquarters beginning construction this year, and expanding wellness supports for our staff. Together, these investments will ensure we continue delivering strong, reliable service for our growing community.”

New tools, such as the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), introduced in March 2025, helped 911 call takers better match responses to the type and urgency of calls. The improvements reduced unnecessary emergency responses and significantly decreased the periods when no ambulances were available in the municipality.

System stability was also strengthened. Unit Hour Utilization, a key measure of ambulance availability, remained stable. Code Zero incidents, periods when no ambulances were available, dropped by over 90 percent, compared to 2023. More accurate call prioritization also reduced the number of ambulances required, from neighbouring communities, helping lower costs.

Financially, the cost to operate an ambulance per hour remained stable, and overall spending aligns with municipal averages, across Ontario. Newer vehicles have reduced fuel and maintenance costs while lowering carbon emissions. The service is exploring further innovation, through initiatives, like a hydrogen fuel cell pilot project.

The workforce also saw growth, with four new full-time paramedics added, in 2025, to improve system capacity. Paramedics continued regular training, to maintain and enhance their skills, though an increase in injury-related time off will be a focus for review, in 2026.

Mayor Doug Elmslie praised the service, stating, “Our paramedics are the backbone of emergency response in our community. These results show they are not only meeting demand but doing so efficiently and sustainably. We look forward to supporting continued growth and innovation in this vital service.”