PARRY SOUND - The foundation is laid for the West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC) to build an ambulance base in Pointe Au Baril.
Once built, the health centre will lease the building to Parry Sound EMS.
Parry Sound EMS provides ambulance services for the entire Parry Sound District. It is managed by the Town of Parry Sound with all district municipalities contributing to its budget.
For years now the ambulance stationed at Pointe Au Baril has been based in Parry Sound. At the start of every shift, according to a report to Parry Sound council, the paramedics drive the ambulance to Pointe Au Baril Nursing Station. There it’s parked 350 metres away from the building and any medicine and equipment affected by the outside temperatures is unloaded. When paramedics are called to an emergency the ambulance must be reloaded, and in the winter months, cleared of ice and snow.
After four years of looking for property and negotiating with the two provincial ministries, the town agreed to buy two adjacent pieces of property from the province for $9,250 for a land ambulance base and a helipad. In total, the land is about two acres.
The new ambulance base is going at the juncture of current Highway 69 and future Highway 400 next to the Larry’s Tavern property.
Parry Sound town council agreed to the purchase of during the December 6 meeting.
Now, said Director of Emergency Services Sharon Montgomery-Greenwood, it’s just a matter of getting the deeds in hand to finalize the agreement and move on to construction.
It could take a couple months for the deed to come through on the main piece of property for the ambulance base before moving onto the smaller piece for the helipad.
Construction
Construction on the new ambulance base is expected to start about 12 months after the town and health centre sign a lease agreement, said Dave Gohier, West Parry Sound Health Centre director of environment and support services.
“We try to be realistic, we’re planning something that is functional, that is modest, but when you’re planning you also plan something so that in the future if you find, for example, you find that you need more space that you can add on to it or you could build up,” said hospital chief executive officer Donald Sanderson. “We’re trying to build smart.”
With a bidding process still outstanding on the project, the expected cost of construction remains private. Where the capital is slated to come from remains to be determined.
“It won’t be anything to do with the programs and services we (WPSHC) deliver,” said Sanderson. “We will be, however, looking for granting and foundation opportunities that may exist.”
The hospital was asked to take on the project of building the ambulance base and agreed, said Sanderson, for two reasons.
“First of all, because we were asked,” he said. “And, by doing so, that will enable the district to receive a rebate of approximately 50 per cent of their operating costs. So, there’s a benefit to the ratepayers for us to do it.”
Helipad
Municipalities, said Montgomery-Greenwood, wont shoulder responsibility for the capital costs of the ambulance base.
They are, however, expected to cover the adjacent helipad, for air ambulances to land.
“It’ll come out of our budget but that capital budget is funded by all the municipalities,” said Montgomery-Greenwood of the helipad.