Ornge officials testified at a coroner’s inquest that meeting the Ministry of Health’s timelines for transporting critically ill patients in northern Ontario remains challenging due to vast distances, despite improved response times compared to 2021.
During the hearings on the deaths of five Constance Lake First Nation members from blastomycosis in 2021, Ornge’s Chief Operating Officer, Wade Durham, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bruce Sawadsky, provided testimony.
Luke Moore and Lizzie Sutherland passed away at Notre Dame Hospital in Hearst while awaiting transfers to better-equipped medical facilities due to blastomycosis. Sawadsky highlighted that critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions are expected to be transported within four hours as per provincial policy, but this is not always feasible in northern Ontario.
In 2021, it took about five hours to dispatch an air ambulance to a critically ill patient in Hearst, but this has since improved to nearly four hours in most instances. However, challenges such as adverse weather conditions can hinder transportation efforts, as witnessed in Moore’s case.
Despite efforts to facilitate timely transfers, factors like runway conditions, crosswinds, and equipment limitations can impede operations. The availability of aircraft and hospital beds also influences the speed of patient transfers.
Improvements have been made post-outbreak to enhance response times and service in northern regions, including the addition of planes and personnel. Ornge is striving to address deficiencies and enhance communication to better serve Indigenous communities in the area.
The ongoing inquest, which commenced in October, continues to address the challenges and seek solutions to ensure efficient and timely medical transportation services in northern Ontario.