Province gives $216K to Sudbury for ER relief

An injection of $216,000 for Health Sciences North will allow paramedics to get back to their duties quicker, said the hospital's spokesperson, Dan Lessard.

Paramedics have to wait with patients who arrive by ambulance until the patient can be cared for by hospital staff. This can lead to longer waits in the emergency department, Lessard said, and keep paramedics off the road.

The funds from the province will free up more dedicated hours so emergency departmentnurses can care for patients arriving by ambulance.

"In some ways this could have an impact on wait times because the minute that patient comes in and is being triaged and taken care of by the nurse, their care is beginning," Lessard said.

"We can deal with them sooner and that might lead to them being discharged sooner. So it could have a positive impact as well on wait times."