Ambulance ‘Staging’ Policy Under Investigation

Toronto (Ont.) police officials are investigating why ambulances were “staged” at three incidents, including one that ended in the death of a 58 year-old man from an apparent cardiac arrest. Police and EMS officials confirmed that its common for EMS crews to arrive at the vicinity of an incident, but then wait at a distance for police to arrive before moving in to assist the patient. However, in this case, they won’t say what circumstances prompted the ambulance crew to stage away from the scene. They did say that the ambulance arrived within nine minutes, but wouldn’t say how long the ambulance waited before being cleared to move in. The investigation comes at the same time as a civic worker strike in Toronto, but city manager Joe Pennachetti said EMS calls are being answered within a normal response time. Read more here.