City of Hamilton launches its first 10-year paramedic master plan

HAMILTON, ON - City Council has approved Hamilton’s first 10-year paramedic master plan, which seeks to transform how the Hamilton Paramedic Service (HPS) conducts its business to better serve the community.  

Developed through extensive research, surveys, internal engagement and external consultations with key community partners, the HPS Master Plan identifies five priority areas and 29 objectives. The priorities areas include: 

• Operational Integration
• Infrastructure Progression
• Service Delivery Optimization
• Positive Work Culture Elevation
• Healthy and Safe Communities Protection and Promotion

The plan provides a strategic framework for how HPS will make operational, capital and organizational decisions related to the delivery of paramedic services to meet the needs of the Hamilton community over the next decade. 

By implementing the plan now, HPS will be able to meet the evolving and growing needs of the community as well as drive advancements in paramedicine. It outlines how efforts will be focused to ensure services are more efficient and enable HPS to proactively respond to change.

To ensure the plan continues to address evolving service demands, it will be reviewed and updated yearly, with a complete refresh scheduled at the five-year mark. The plan identifies additional paramedic staff, ambulances, and infrastructure requirements to effectively manage current demands as well as the anticipated population growth and age demographic changes over the next 10 years. These needs will be addressed annually through the budget process.

The plan proposes fully integrating the provincially operated ambulance dispatch centre as part of the Hamilton Paramedic Service to obtain efficiencies and allow for the transformation of the handling of 911 calls. This includes the development of a clinical hub at the ambulance dispatch centre, which would enable a central access point for health care services to reduce ambulance responses to non-urgent calls that can be safely managed through referral processes. This would be aimed at mitigating emergency department pressures and providing support to callers in the convenience of their own homes. 

The Master Plan also seeks to transform the patient journey through the health care system by electronically integrating patient information with hospitals and primary care physicians to ensure the right level of care is provided when it is required and where it is appropriate.  

The Master Plan will set the course for more optimal services delivered by paramedics equipped with progressive technology and expanded skills to ensure the best outcomes for community members who depend on HPS for their health and well-being.

All funding requests will be incorporated into the City’s annual capital and operating budget processes for approval each year.

Quick Facts

• HPS is an integral part of the health care system in Hamilton and contributes to the public safety of the community. It helps to promote the health and safety of Hamilton’s residents and visitors through a range of prevention, response, follow-up and community initiatives.
• There were 827 resident responses to the online and phone surveys and approximately 30 in-person stakeholder consultations that assisted in the development of key focus areas and understanding of service expectations for the HPS Master Plan. 
• HPS responds to an average of 248 dispatch calls per day.
• For 2022, the gross operating budget for HPS is approximately $65,400,000 with approximately 420 staff working out of 18 locations. The municipal tax levy for 2022 is $21,900,000.
• The operating budget for HPS is shared 50/50 with the Ontario government for approved land ambulance costs.