Another 20 are scheduled to be brought on in November and hiring continues in an effort to fill nine critical support positions. Chief of Paramedic Services John Riches, who's been in the position for roughly a year, has been impressed with the support of council as it tries to keep up with demand.
Typically, part-time paramedic positions are recruited first with seniority factoring into being offered full-time when an opening comes up. While staffing shortages aren't a major concern at the moment, it doesn't mean the service is free of issues.
Illnesses, staff on leave and mental health concerns can all factor into the number of paramedics on the road. With a current high volume of calls, it's essential to have enough staff. When there is a shortage for one reason or another, Riches said there are a number of steps that are taken to ensure highest priority calls are taken care of. Sometimes we're successful, sometimes we're not. We often readjust our deployment in the community to where calls are likely to occur.
That's all happening in real time. Longer term, there are regular discussion with its union on how to manage absenteeism with a comprehensive mental health and wellness strategy.
By prioritizing staff wellbeing, it's the hope that it aids in the creation of a healthy, resilient workplace culture. Another challenge is the number of successful students graduating compared to the need services have across the province. Riches credits Conestoga College for their work preparing potential paramedics for the field with students often doing their required ride outs in the region.
