Ottawa Paramedics Miss Response Targets in 2025

Ottawa paramedics did not meet council's target for responding to the highest priority medical emergencies in 2025. The Ottawa Paramedic Service reached its goal for CTAS 1 calls, which represent life-threatening situations, only 70.4% of the time. This is a decrease from 75.1% in 2024.

Factors contributing to this shortfall include population growth, an aging demographic, and broader healthcare system challenges. Despite this, the paramedic service significantly improved its availability, reducing 'level zero' events, where no ambulances are available, by 92% compared to 2024.

Furthermore, the central ambulance communications centre missed notification targets for sudden cardiac arrests and CTAS 1 and 2 calls. Officials attribute this to the new Medical Priority Dispatch System, which requires more time for dispatcher information gathering.