Clinton News Record, 2016-07-13, Page 17County council decides
to eliminate Advanced
Care Paramedic program
Laura Broadley
Postmedia Network
A strong contingent of Huron
County paramedics made its
presence known during the July
6 council meeting. Dressed in
their identifiable fluorescent
uniforms, about 15 paramedics
came to refute the idea that rid-
ding the county of Advanced
Care Paramedics (ACP) was in
the best interest of residents.
A vote of eight to seven was
recorded in favour of ending
the ACP program in the county
immediately or as soon as pos-
sible within the collective
agreement
The topic has been widely
debated in county council
chambers over the last few
weeks, with many councillors
arguing in favour of each side.
The move was made so more
Primary Care Paramedics
(PCP) could be used on the
road in the hopes of decreasing
response times.
The ACP scope of practice is
bigger than a PCP. They are
qualified to administer more
medications, including mor-
phine. ACPs are also trained
in a number of procedures
that PCPs are not, including
intubation.
Huron East Mayor Bernie
MacLellan said his concern
was that the outer region of
the county wasn't being
served as well as the rest. With
the removal of ACPs, the
county would be able to have
more PCPs on the road in the
hope that it would decrease
response times.
There is no guarantee that
an ACP would be on a call
where they are needed.
North Huron Reeve Neil
Vincent said it wasn't about
saving money for him, but
increasing the availability of
paramedics.
Council heard from Brad
Watters, a Huron County ACP
and CUPE 4513 representa-
tive. He said there were 14
ACPs within the Huron
County Paramedic Services,
some of which were trained to
become ACPs at a cost to the
county. Two paramedics paid
the program fees themselves,
at a cost of about $15,000, only
to find out a job wasn't
available.
An ACP is not on every call,
and they don't use their extra
skills everyday, but it is an asset
to Huron County to have them.
There are many examples
where ACP skills have saved a
life, but they aren't allowed to
talk about it because of confi-
dentiality, Watters said.
Perth, Bruce and Grey coun-
ties don't have ACPs, and
Oxford County has one trained
ACP in a supervisor role.
A motion was made to phase
out ACPs in Huron County
through retirement, but it was
defeated in a 10 to five vote. If
the county were to phase out
ACPs through attrition it would
take 30 years and cost about
$2.3 -million.
MacLellan made a motion to
stop the ACP programimmedi-
ately. He said it would cost
$600,000 to do it that way,
whichwaswhyhewas in favour
of it happening immediately.
The motion passed in a
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 • News Record 17
Laura Broadley Postmedia Network
Huron County council voted to immediately remove the Advanced
Care Paramedics from its roster and replace them with Primary
Care Paramedics.
recorded vote.
Watters said he was disap-
pointed with the decision. The
Ministry of Health funds 50 per
cent of the costs, about $90,000,
and the countywas "handing it
back," Watters said.
Increasing the number of
ACPs would be a solution to the
paramedic coverage issue, Wat-
ters said.
A petition has been started
on www.change.org by "Con-
cerned Citizens of Huron" to
stop the cuts to the Huron
County Paramedic Service. It
had over 1,150 supporters at the
time of publication.
AD CE N T R1 EXTEND YOUR REACH - ADVERTISE PROVINCIALLY OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY!
r more information contact your local community newspaper or visit www.networkclassified.org
FINANCIAL SERVICES
$$ CONSOLIDATE
YOUR DEBT $$
HOME EQUITY LOANS
FOR ANY PURPOSE!!
Bank turn downs, Tax or Mortgage
arrears, Self Employed, Bad Credit,
Bankruptcy.
Creative Mortgage Specialists!
No proof of income
1st, 2nd, and 3rd's
Up to 85%
Borrow:
$25,000
$50,000
$100,000
Pay Monthly:
$105.40
$237.11
$474.21
LARGER AMOUNTS AND
COMMERCIAL FUNDS AVAILABLE
!!Decrease monthly payments
up to 75%!!
Based on 3% APR. OAC
1-888-307-7799
ONTARIO -WIDE FINANCIAL
1801347inc
FSCO Licence #12456
www.ontario-widefinancial.com
!! LET US HELP !!
VACATION/TRAVEL
ADVENTURE
0.At'}A0A
SAVE 30%
On our
Heart of the Arctic adventure
Visit Inuit communities in
Greenland and Nunavut
Aboard the comfortable
198 -passenger Ocean Endeavour
CALL FOR DETAILS!
1-800-363-7566
www.adventurecanada.com
14 Front St. S. Mississauga
(TICO # 04001400)
EMPLOYMENT OPPS.
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In
demand career! Employers have
work -at-home positions available. Get
online training you need from an
employer -trusted program. Visit:
CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362
to start training for your work -at-home
career today!
MORTGAGES
MrApprovZ.com MORTGAGE
APPROVAL - 1st & 2nd MORTGAG-
ES, Purchases, Refinances, Commer-
cial Loans to $10 MILLION, Farm and
Farmland Mortgages, Bruised Credit -
No Problem! CALL TOLL-FREE
1-844-277-7689. Online Application
@ www.MrApprovZ.com (Money
Solutions Inc. LIC# 10731).
STEEL BUILDINGS
STEEL BUILDING SALE ..."MAD-
NESS SALE -CRAZY PRICES ON
NOW!" 20X19 $5,645 25X27
$6,424 28x29 $7,558 32X33 $10,297
42X47 $15,590. One End wall includ-
ed. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422
www.pioneersteel.ca
CANADA BENEFIT GROUP - Do
you or someone you know suffer
from a disability? Get up to $40,000
from the Canadian Government. Toll-
free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canada
benefit. ca/free-assessment
PERSONALS
ANOTHER SUMMER ALONE?
Think how much better summer eve-
nings on a patio would be with some-
one you love. MISTY RIVER INTRO-
DUCTIONS can help you find that
special person. CALL (519)658-4204,
www.mistyriverintros.com.
MORTGAGES
BETTEROPTION
MORTGAGE
LOWER YOUR MONTHLY PAYMENTS
AND
CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT NOW!!!
1st, 2nd, 3rd MORTGAGES
Debt Consolidation
Refinancing, Renovations
Tax Arrears, No CMHC Fees
$50K YOU PAY:
$208.33 / MONTH
(OAC)
No Income, Bad Credit
Power of Sale Stopped!!!
BETTER OPTION MORTGAGE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL TODAY TOLL-FREE:
1-800-282-1169
www.mortgageontario.com
(Licence # 10969)
ADVERTISING
REACH MILLIONS OF CUSTOMERS
IN ONTARIO WITH ONE EASY
CALL!
Your Classified Ad or Display Ad
would appear in weekly newspapers
each week across Ontario in urban,
suburban and rural areas.
For more information Call Today
647-350-2558,
Email: kmagill@rogers.com or visit:
www.OntarioClassifiedAds.com.
FOR SALE
SAWMILLS from only $4,397 -
MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY
with your own bandmill - Cut
lumber any dimension. In stock
ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD:
www.NorwoodSawmills.com/4000T
1-800-566-6899 Ext:4000T.