The number of “code zero” ambulance shortages is on the rise again in Hamilton.
Michael Sanderson, the city’s chief of emergency services, says so far this year there have been 105 code zero instances, or times when no ambulances have been available to answer calls.
That compares with 28 such events before the end of September in 2016.
Sanderson blames two “systemic issues” for the spike, starting with a 4.7 per cent increase in call volumes at Hamilton EMS, which works out to 3,500 additional calls for the year.
He adds that hospital patient flow is the other big issue. Paramedics must remain with a patient until a hospital accepts transfer of care.
Sanderson notes that the average is 10 patients per day who are waiting on ambulance stretchers for longer than two hours.
City Council has voted to spend close to $370,000 to add one more ambulance for the next five months, to help the ambulance service get through flu season.