There were 457 cases between January and October last year when it took paramedics longer than 20 minutes to reach patients in life-threatening situations due to an ambulance and staffing shortage.

OPSEU Local 256 president Mario Posteraro believes changes in the way that hospitals handle patient flow are helping paramedics get back on the road more quickly.

Hamilton's chronic problem with ambulance shortages is being cited in the death of a 71-year-old woman last month.