Grey County paramedics continued to meet or exceed response targets for the majority of calls in 2025. The annual response time report was presented to Grey County Council on March 12 and showed consistent results compared to 2024 numbers, despite a nearly 9% increase in total calls. Targets were met in all but two response categories.
Each year, Grey County sets target times for responding to emergency calls. These targets vary based on the severity of the call. Targets are reviewed every year and are reported to the Ministry of Health each spring. There are six categories of calls. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) calls are most urgent and have a response target of six minutes or less. The remaining five levels are based on the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). This scale assesses the patient’s immediate need from care. These range from CTAS 1 calls, which require resuscitation and are life threatening, such as cardiac arrests or major trauma, to CTAS 5 calls, which are less urgent conditions that could be referred to other areas of the healthcare system, such as a small wound requiring stitches or a dressing change. The target for a CTAS 1 call is eight minutes 60 percent of the time, 15 minutes for a CTAS 2 call 90 percent of the time, and up to 20 minutes for CTAS 3-5 90 percent of the time.
In 2025, Grey County exceeded targets for SCA calls and CTAS 3-5. CTAS 1 targets were achieved in 58.65% of calls (target 60%), and CTAS 2 targets were achieved in 88.78% of calls (target 90%).
Grey County paramedics cover an area of 4,500 square kilometres. The location of a call and the nearest paramedic station or available ambulance impact response times. A comprehensive review was completed in 2023 providing projections for where call volumes are expected to rise and where more resources should be deployed. This review will be updated in 2026 to confirm it still reflects the needs of the County. In the coming years, Grey County plans to construct four additional bases in Feversham (2026), Ayton (2027), Thornbury (2027), and Cobble Beach (2028).
Full response time results are available on the Committee of the Whole report on the Grey County website, www.grey.ca. More information about Paramedic Services can be found on the Grey County website at http://www.grey.ca/paramedic-services.
