by The Health Department says paramedics in the province will switch to a direct to triage policy for low risk patients, starting tomorrow.
Under the policy, paramedics will take low-risk patients to the emergency department waiting room to be assessed by healthcare staff, instead of waiting for a doctor to take over their care.
The Department says the goal of the policy is to get paramedics and ambulances back on the road faster so they can respond to emergency calls sooner.
It says a low-risk patient is anyone who has normal vital signs and can sit, stand or move independently without risk of falling.
It says paramedics will continue to wait with high-risk patients that could have suspected stroke, chest pain or other potentially life-threatening injuries.