On January 1, 2001 the District assumed operational responsibility for the delivery of the Paramedic Services from the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
Muskoka Paramedic Services provides professional emergency and non-urgent medical care to residents and visitors across Muskoka. We currently have five Paramedic Stations located in Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, MacTier and Port Carling.
In addition to emergency services, we operate the Community Paramedicine (CP) Program designed to help individuals stay in their homes longer by addressing their healthcare needs and connecting them with additional support services.
For current updates, follow Muskoka Paramedic Services on X (formerly Twitter) @MuskokaPS.
Improvements are coming to Paramedic Services in West Muskoka - What does this mean?
In an emergency, getting to you quickly and safely is our top priority.
As part of the Paramedic Services 10-Year Plan, which includes enhancements to coverage in both West and East Muskoka, the physical Paramedic Station building in MacTier no longer meets the changing needs of the community. This means the building will close, but does not mean Paramedics are leaving MacTier. In fact, the fast, safe, and reliable care you expect from Muskoka’s Paramedics will improve with these changes.
View our one-pager for more details.
We understand residents have questions about what this means for emergency services for MacTier and area. Read our FAQ's below to learn more about how these changes will lead to faster response times and more flexible service in MacTier and surrounding area.
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Why are changes to Paramedic Services happening in Muskoka? |
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As the population in Muskoka grows and ages, the calls for paramedic services are expected to increase significantly. To make sure we are planning and ready for the future, the District developed a 10-Year Master Plan for Paramedic Services to ensure that residents receive timely and effective emergency care by strategically adding more paramedics, vehicles, and stations while enhancing public safety and health outcomes for all residents of Muskoka. The Master Plan identified changes for West and East Muskoka that would result in overall better Paramedic coverage for the residents and visitors. |
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Why is the MacTier Paramedic Station being closed? |
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The closure of the MacTier Paramedic Station is part of a plan to improve emergency responses across Muskoka. The decision was made after careful study, which demonstrated that the existing Port Carling and MacTier stations were not ideally located, and that moving Paramedics to new locations will help Paramedics reach more people faster. Although the station in MacTier will close, a Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) will be stationed to ensure that emergency services remain available in the area. The PRU will be staffed with 1 Paramedic 12-hours per day, seven days per week, matching to previous station operation times of the MacTier Station. |
| When is the station closure planned to take place? |
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The closure of the MacTier Station is part of a number of changes to provide better overall coverage and quicker response times for everyone in Muskoka, including MacTier, by purposefully placing paramedics where they are most needed. Here is the anticipated timeline of changes:
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What benefits will come from closing the MacTier station? |
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The closure allows us to deploy resources more efficiently. The new PRU in MacTier offers flexible and efficient coverage. It stays in the area and does not need to transport patients to hospitals, allowing it to remain available for more calls. |
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What is the difference between a Paramedic Response Unit and an ambulance, and how does a PRU benefit the community? |
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A Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) is different from a traditional ambulance in a few key ways, and it offers specific advantages to the community. Unlike an ambulance, which is equipped to transport patients to hospitals, a PRU is a smaller vehicle that does not carry patients but is staffed by a fully qualified paramedic, providing the same scope of care as an ambulance would. The PRU can quickly reach the scene of an emergency and start providing medical care right away. This means that even if an ambulance is delayed, the PRU can begin treatment, ensuring faster treatment and stabilization. For the community, having a dedicated PRU means quicker response times. Since PRUs don't transport patients, they can stay in the area and be ready for the next call, reducing the time it takes for help to arrive. This allows ambulances to focus on transporting patients who need hospital care, improving overall emergency service efficiency and ensuring that residents receive timely medical attention. The addition of this resource to West Muskoka means that a Paramedic will be in MacTier and the rest of that part of the District more often, improving overall response performance. A transport ambulance will be simultaneously dispatched to calls in MacTier, so not only will residents/visitors receive faster care from the PRU, but will still have a transport ambulance available should they require it. This is an improvement over the current state in MacTier, and the physical building location has no impact on this. |
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Will emergency response times change because of the closure of the MacTier Station? |
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The changes being made to Muskoka Paramedic Service including the closure of the MacTier Station are steps aimed to improve response times across the region. By closing the MacTier Station and locating a Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) in the area, emergency services can be more flexible and responsive. The PRU can quickly reach emergencies and start providing the same level of care as provided by Paramedics in an ambulance, ensuring that help is available even if an ambulance is not immediately on site. This is an improvement in coverage for MacTier, as currently that ambulance is either on standby for a busier community or on a lengthy transport to/from hospital. Additionally, the new station locations, such as Glen Orchard and Whites Falls, are purposely chosen to improve emergency coverage and reduce overall response times throughout Muskoka. These changes ensure that all communities, including MacTier, receive the fastest, safest, and highest quality medical care possible. |
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What is the current Paramedic staffing of the MacTier Station? |
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The MacTier Paramedic station is currently staffed with two Paramedics 12-hours per day, seven days per week from 08:00-20:00, but this does not mean the Paramedics are always at the station, or in the area. In fact, 58% of responses from the MacTier Paramedic Station cover areas outside of MacTier. With the new Paramedic Response Unit (PRU) positioned in and dedicated to MacTier and mirroring the same shift, we gain the benefit always having that paramedic in the area and not being pulled away for coverage 58% of the time. |
| Do Paramedics always respond to emergencies from the MacTier station? |
| In Ontario, paramedics and their ambulances spend a significant amount of time away from their home stations. This is due to the nature of their work, which involves responding to emergency calls, transporting patients to hospitals, and ensuring that there is equitable coverage across different areas.
Because paramedics are frequently on the move, the physical presence of an ambulance station in a community does not necessarily mean that paramedics are always responding from that location. They are as likely to be out on calls or covering other areas as they are to be at the station. For example, if all ambulances in Bracebridge are responding to emergency calls, an ambulance from MacTier may be moved towards Bracebridge to balance emergency coverage, leaving the MacTier station vacant. |
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When Paramedics are not at the station, what are they doing? |
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Paramedics are often not at the community station because they are on the move, responding to emergencies wherever they occur. They travel to different areas to attend to patients, transport them to hospitals, and ensure that all parts of the community have access to emergency services. This means they spend a lot of time away from the station, as they need to be flexible and ready to provide care wherever it's needed most. 58% of all responses from the MacTier station are to provide standby coverage for other parts of the District where call volumes are much higher |
| Does the closure of the MacTier Paramedic Station building indicate budget cuts to Paramedic Services? |
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No. In fact, we are improving emergency services by building a new paramedic station and adding resources, like the PRU in MacTier. The 10-Year Plan also recommends building new stations in Georgian Bay and Lake of Bays. Muskoka’s Paramedic Services are growing to meet the changing needs of the community, and the District is investing in Paramedic Services, not cutting it. |
| How do I get more information if I have more questions? |
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For more information on our 10-Year Plan you can review our 2022-2032 Paramedic Services Resources and Facilities Master Plan report to Health Services Committee and its accompanying presentation. Please direct media inquiries to media@muskoka.on.ca For all other inquiries please email MPS@muskoka.on.ca |