Grey County paramedics maintained strong performance on emergency calls throughout 2025, meeting or exceeding response time targets in most categories.
The County’s annual report, presented to County Council on March 12, shows results largely consistent with 2024, despite a nearly nine percent rise in total call volume.
Each year, Grey County establishes response time targets for emergencies, which vary depending on the severity of the call. These targets are reviewed annually and reported to the Ministry of Health each spring.
Calls are divided into six categories, with sudden cardiac arrest calls being the most urgent, carrying a six-minute response target. The remaining calls are classified using the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale, or CTAS, which ranks patients based on the immediacy of care required.
CTAS 1 calls, which include life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest or major trauma, have an eight-minute target for sixty percent of calls. CTAS 2 calls, which are very urgent, have a 15-minute target for 90 percent of calls, while CTAS 3 to 5 calls, less urgent cases like minor injuries, aim for a 20-minute response in 90 percent of instances.
In 2025, Grey County paramedics exceeded targets for sudden cardiac arrest calls and CTAS 3-5 calls. The targets for CTAS 1 calls were achieved in 58.65 percent of cases, just below the 60 percent goal, and CTAS 2 calls were met in 88.78 percent of calls, slightly under the 90 percent target.
Paramedics operate across a 4,500 square kilometre area, and response times are influenced by both the location of a call and the proximity of the nearest ambulance or station. A comprehensive review conducted in 2023 projected where call volumes were expected to increase and where additional resources would be needed. This review will be updated in 2026 to ensure it still meets the county’s needs.
To improve coverage, Grey County plans to construct four new paramedic bases over the coming years, with locations in Feversham in 2026, Ayton and Thornbury in 2027, and Cobble Beach in 2028. These new stations are expected to help maintain and improve response times as demand continues to grow.
