Oxford County paramedic system under strain

Oxford County Paramedic Services is experiencing slower response times, mainly due to population growth in rural areas. The county is looking at ways to improve the service across urban and rural areas. (Dudek Photography Photo).

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Ambulance response times are increasing in the county, and Oxford County is considering how best to respond to the growing demand. As the county’s population continues to grow in both rural and urban areas, officials say new strategies and resources may be necessary to ensure timely emergency care for residents.

East Zorra-Tavistock and Zorra have the poorest response times in the county, mainly due to the fact the two towns have seen high population growth.

“Tavistock and Thamesford used to be called small settlements, but they are pretty well-established areas where historically there haven’t been ambulance stations,” explained Ryan Hall, the county’s Chief of Paramedic Services. “We have had them where the majority of the calls are, which is Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Ingersoll.”

Norwich and Drumbo also have stations and there is another location just north of Embro. Hall said the growth in the rural areas is expected to continue.

“With long-term care beds being opened in Tavistock and the former Maple Leaf property in Thamesford being zoned for residential development. That’s going to make it even worse,” he added.

Hall explained rural areas received a few calls every month twenty years ago but now 15 to 20 is more the norm.

“It has crept up quite slowly, but we are at that threshold now where it makes sense to respond to these areas from a closer location.”

Woodstock City/County Coun. Bernia Martin asked Hall at a recent county meeting if the paramedic service has the capacity to respond appropriately to the rise in call numbers.

“If we were one big urban centre, we would have some capacity. Our issue is where our calls are now happening more often is further from where we have ambulances stationed,” answered Hall. “We can add all the resources in Woodstock, but the laws of physics prevent us from responding to Tavistock and Thamesford at the same time as we would in Woodstock.”

Deputy Warden and Ingersoll Mayor Brian Petrie asked Paramedic Chief Hall whether the 2026 budget would include measures to address diminishing response times. Hall said he is reviewing the redeployment of resources and will bring forward options for council’s consideration.

East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer said he has had several discussions with Paramedic Chief Hall about where an ambulance resource could potentially be located in the township. Hall noted similar talks have taken place with Zorra.

“If we did have an ambulance resource, would we be able to partner with you in your firehalls to actively house one? That’s something we are considering.”

Hall added having conversations with neighbouring municipalities is also on the table.

“Let’s talk with Perth about a joint facility, joint response structure or some sort of partnership.”

Oxford County Warden and Zorra Township Mayor Marcus Ryan offered a different take on the issue. He said some decisions need to be made.

“In the short-term I think it's almost inevitable we will have to add paramedics and possibly an ambulance. Other than that, there is nothing we can do that is quick. I don’t love that, but it’s not a surprise.”

He added that in the medium to long term, council needs to have serious conversations with both themselves and residents about response times, noting the solution isn’t necessarily about bricks and mortar.

“We don’t really care where the ambulances are supposedly parked because the reality is they are hardly ever parked there. At the previous term of council we received a report on response times. Where the ambulances, and where does it make sense for them to be. The reality is, you can have a building where an ambulance gets parked, but it’s only there for shift changes.”

Ryan added an ambulance is likely going to or from one of the three Oxford County hospitals when a 911 call is made.

“In the case of Zorra Township, they aren’t sitting around in the Highland yard north of Embro with their feet up waiting for a call. So, it doesn’t really matter where the ambulance hall is, but it matters what the response time is. I say that because council needs to start asking for things from our staff, and I think they are ready to give it to us.”

He said council’s priority is ensuring residents receive the best response times, regardless of where buildings or ambulances are located.

“What is the system that does that? I think to a large extent, we kind of have that now, or pretty close. We need to potentially be willing to partner with Perth, Brant and Middlesex. We partner with them already, but I think we need to explore that partnership more to say, is it possible for residents on both sides of those borders to get better response times if we are willing to be more collaborative, look at different systems, and not be so wedded to having an ambulance parked in my community.”

Ryan added that council works best when it doesn’t demand a particular solution, but instead sets out the service level it wants to achieve.

“What’s the service look like that gets residents the fastest ambulance response time. Who do we need to partner with, and what do we need to consider doing? We can, and I think we will probably need to, throw money at the problem short-term.”

Ryan added living in rural areas has its advantages, but also its disadvantages when it comes to emergency services.

“I live on a gravel road. I don’t have sidewalks or streetlights. To me, those are features. I like that. The other part of living rural is, yeah, it’s going to take longer for an ambulance, as well as police and fire to get to me. That’s part of the deal.”