No paramedics on duty at London Ornge Feb. 28 spot inspection reveals no one on duty at flight base

For immediate release:
June 4, 2012

QUEEN’S PARK — Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett questioned the Minister of Health today why an Ornge flight base would be operating without paramedics following a spot inspection revealing none on duty February 28th in London.

“This is right in the heart of your riding and Minister Bentley’s riding. Minister, there was a spot investigation of that base on that day conducted by your own ministry,” Barrett noted. “Since you have now had the weekend to read the leaked cabinet document, can you inform this House and your colleagues as to what happened on that day?”

In response the Minister failed to acknowledge the vacant staffing issue, instead choosing to state her support for the scandal-plagued Ornge, “We are committed to improve safety at Ornge. It’s a long-standing commitment, and I can tell you that we remain committed to patient safety.”

During his follow-up question, Barrett redirected the Minister back to the troublesome staffing issue.

“On February 28, February of this year, after your so-called decisive action, the spot inspection conducted by your own ministry officials found there were no paramedics on duty at all,” stated Barrett. “This despite the fact that Ornge, under your new leadership, told the ministry in writing that there would be at least one critical care paramedic on duty. The London base covers Haldimand–Norfolk, Oxford, Middlesex, Chatham, southwestern Ontario, including London.”

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Monday 4 June 2012
AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE
Mr. Toby Barrett: Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health. On February 28, 2012, the investigation, certification and compliance branch of the Ministry of Health did a spot investigation of the Ornge flight base in London. This is right in the heart of your riding and Minister Bentley’s riding. Minister, there was a spot investigation of that base on that day conducted by your own ministry. Since you have now had the weekend to read the leaked cabinet document, can you inform this House and your colleagues as to what happened on that day?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, what I can tell you is that the document that was released by the member from Newmarket–Aurora demonstrates how seriously we take every incident that is reported to us. It doesn’t matter, Speaker, who reports that incident. It might be a family member, it might be a paramedic, it might be a pilot, it might be a member of this Legislature, it might be a member of the media. No matter who reports an incident to us, we take that very, very seriously.
The document makes it clear that every incident is investigated. Where there are lessons to be learned, those changes are made. Where the coroner needs to be notified, the coroner is notified. It is up to the coroner to determine whether or not an investigation or an inquest indeed be conducted, Speaker.
We are committed to improve safety at Ornge. It’s a long-standing commitment, and I can tell you that we remain committed to patient safety.
The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Supplementary?
Mr. Toby Barrett: Back to the Minister of Health and the member for London North Centre. Have you not been briefed, yet again? On February 28, February of this year, after your so-called decisive action, the spot inspection conducted by your own ministry officials found there were no paramedics on duty at all. This despite the fact that Ornge, under your new leadership, told the ministry in writing that there would be at least one critical care paramedic on duty. The London base covers Haldimand–Norfolk, Oxford, Middlesex, Chatham, southwestern Ontario, including London.
You have stood in your place repeatedly. You’ve told us of your sorry list of indecisive actions. Does this list now include allowing one of the Ornge regional helicopter bases, particularly the one in the minister’s own backyard, to go unstaffed?
Hon. Deborah Matthews: Speaker, we have got new leadership at Ornge. We have a new board of directors. We have a new senior management team at Ornge. They are very familiar with the issues that have been raised by the member opposite. In fact, I would say that a spot audit demonstrates that they are determined to monitor and improve upon any issues that might arise in those spot audits.
I can tell you that the hundred thousand people who have been successfully transported by Ornge are grateful for the care they received. Their families are grateful for the care they received. Speaker, I think we owe it to those families, I think we owe it to the front-line staff, to have a constructive conversation that is free from the outrageous partisanship that is being demonstrated by the party opposite.