WECHU CEO says talks are underway to address a critical ambulance shortage

Discussions are taking place to address the emergency ambulance shortage with theEMSservice in Windsor-Essex, says the new leader of the local health unit.

"There's no doubt in my mind that collectively we will ... havea solution," said Dr. Ken Blanchette, CEO of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

"We will have some implementation hopefully within the next fewdays and then we can navigate through this. So we're looking at short-term solutions, medium-rangesolutions and long-term solutions."

The health unit is one of the health-care agencies participatingin talks to address what officials are calling a crisis in access to ambulances.

Blanchettedeclined to comment further on what those solutions might be, saying that Essex-Windsor EMS chief Bruce Krauter will release more information.

The county of Essex declared an emergency over the issue this week. According to the County of Essex, as of Mondaythere werenearly 500 minutes where aCode Black was in effect this month. Code Blackrefers to situations when there is no ambulance free to respond in the event of an emergency.

The issue is being blamed ondelays in off-loading patients athospitals, which are also over capacity, according to officials.

Essex County officials recently met with the provincial Ministry of Health on the issue, which is being felt inregions across the province.

They made several suggestions to tackle the offload delays, including allowing less serious patients to sit in the waiting room so ambulances can leave the hospital.

A ministry spokesperson indicated earlier this weekthat Health Minister Sylvia Jones will meet with countywarden Gary McNamara and Krauter "to discuss how the province can assist with this matter."

WATCH: Dr. Ken Blanchette joins CBC Windsor News at 6

WECHU's new CEO answers questions on potential COVID-19 wave

2 years ago

Duration 2:49

Dr. Ken Blanchette, CEO of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, answers questions about the possibility of a fall wave of COVID-19.

Blanchette, a doctor of chiropracticwho has served as a board member for WECHU and Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, made the comments in his first interview with CBC News since taking position at the helm of the public health unit on Monday.

Blanchette was hired following the departure of Nicole Dupuis last month.

The health unit has yet to fill another key vacancy on staff. Dr. Shanker Nesathurai has been serving as top doctor on an interim basis since September 2021.

Blanchette said it was a top priority to find a permanent medical officer of health for the region.

"We're hoping to expedite that. We arelooking both within Canada and internationally as well."