THUNDER BAY — The number of patients utilizing Ornge air ambulance services in Northwestern Ontario has increased over the years, but it significantly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past six years, the number of patients being treated and or transported by medical helicopters, plane and ground ambulances stayed fairly steady before the pandemic. It wasn't until 2021-2022 that patient numbers increased to nearly 7,000 for the year, the highest in the six-year period.
However, the year after that ranks second in usage as over 6,400 patients saw the inside of an Ornge medical transport.
In an emailed statement, Ornge communications advisor Joshua McNamara detailed that this fiscal year is on track to mimic the past two years, with almost 2,300 patients already seen between April and July.
"Part of ORNGE’s mission is to create capacity in the system by transporting patients (in some cases repatriating patients), which creates available beds in healthcare facilities for other patients," McNamara said.
Globally, air ambulance departures grew by 26 per cent in the first seven months of this year compared to the same time period in 2019. The data shows that Canadian flights in the same time frame were up 97 per cent.
While the increases in usage continue to climb, especially given a rapidly aging population, it does give reassurance to remote communities in northwestern Ontario that access to emergency medical care is still available despite land-based care often being overwhelmed on a consistent basis.
