The Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association is pleased the provincial government of making more money available for the paramedicine program.
Earlier this week, 89 million dollars was announced to support it.
Fern Dominelli is executive director and says it also allows for the expansion of the program.
“The additional funding is for the expansion into First Nation communities, which is great,” says Dominelli.
“But what it does is allow us to finalize the positions, because as you can imagine, these were temporary jobs in some cases, for the last three or four years.”
Dominelli adds that the funding makes staffing the paramedicine program more sustainable.
“So, now it actually allows us to make positions permanent and have a permanent program running. For the community paramedicine program, it is all paramedics that are actually going out and doing home visits.”
Under the program, seniors are able to live at home, and receive health care services from paramedics, without having to leave the house or go into a long-term care facility.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford says communities like Pikangikum and the Weenusk First Nation will soon have access to the paramedicine program.
NOSDA represents Service Boards across the province, including the Kenora District Services Board and the Rainy River District Social Services Board and the paramedicine program is delivered through the City of Thunder Bay.
