(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
Whether you call it a crisis or simply a system under strain, there are growing signs that Northumberland County’s paramedic service is being pushed to its limits.
The reasons are likely complex. Ambulance off-load delays at Northumberland Hills Hospital, increasing call volumes, staffing pressures, and the challenge of covering a large rural county all play a role. Regardless of the cause, the result is the same: people who call 911 are, at times, waiting far longer than they expect for an ambulance.
Three recent incidents highlight the concern.
On May 26, firefighters responded to a two-vehicle collision in Cobourg where one vehicle struck a hydro pole. One driver suffered facial injuries while another complained of chest pain. The crash occurred at 2:12 p.m., but just nine minutes later dispatch advised firefighters that there were no ambulances available in the area. An ambulance did not arrive until 3:07 p.m.—nearly an hour after the collision. One patient was eventually transported to hospital.
On July 7, Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services responded to a pedestrian struck at Mill and Madison streets. The victim was bleeding from the head and complaining of an elbow injury. Firefighters were advised the responding ambulance might be coming from Millbrook and that there was no estimated arrival time. Fortunately, an ambulance arrived minutes later and the patient, whose injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, was transported to hospital.
The most troubling example occurred on July 12 following a collision on westbound Highway 401 near Morris Church Road. One person suffered a leg injury, but nearly 30 minutes after the call firefighters were advised there were no paramedic units available and no estimated time of arrival.
With heavy weekend traffic returning toward Toronto, emergency crews were left exposed on one of Canada’s busiest highways. A firefighter radioed a warning to fellow crews after “a couple of near misses,” prompting another fire truck to be dispatched solely to shield responders from oncoming traffic. Nearly an hour after the initial call, firefighters reported the injured person left in a tow truck to seek medical attention at hospital.
Northumberland County says there was a reason for the delay.
According to Communications Director Kate Campbell, three of the county’s six overnight ambulances were already committed to other emergencies. Once ambulance availability reaches that threshold, the remaining units are strategically positioned across the county to ensure coverage for life-threatening calls. Lower-priority calls must wait until crews become available.
That explanation follows established emergency medical protocols. Resources have to be prioritized, and someone suffering cardiac arrest or another life-threatening emergency must take precedence.
But that doesn’t erase the concern.
A person involved in a collision doesn’t always know the extent of their injuries. Adrenaline and shock can mask serious internal trauma. Chest pain could signal something minor—or something far more serious. A head injury that appears manageable can quickly deteriorate. Even trained first responders cannot always determine how serious an injury may become without further medical assessment.
No one is suggesting that paramedics aren’t doing everything they can. They are working within the resources they have, often under immense pressure. The issue is whether those resources are sufficient to meet the community’s expectations and needs.
Most residents assume that when they dial 911 for an injured family member, help is only minutes away. They rarely consider the possibility that there may simply be no ambulance available.
These delays are largely invisible to the public because they happen quietly, heard only over emergency radio traffic or witnessed by firefighters and police officers on scene. But they are occurring.
Northumberland County has invested in expanding paramedic services over the years, yet these incidents raise an important question: is the system keeping pace with demand?
The public deserves an honest conversation about ambulance coverage, staffing levels, hospital off-load delays, and what level of service residents can realistically expect during peak demand.
No community wants to discover the answer only after becoming the one waiting for an ambulance.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
