The Hastings Quinte Emergency Services Committee has agreed to recommend the renewal of an agreement with Loyalist College for a student placement program for another five years.
The current agreement includes the placement of paramedic students with Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Services to meet the educational requirements of the College’s Paramedic Program.
The agreement is set to expire in September.
This would coincide with a potential change from a two-year diploma program to a three-year degree program that Ontario Colleges have submitted to the provincial Ministry of Health.
The current two-year program has been in place since 1999 despite significant increases in paramedic scope of practice, paramedic chief Carl Bowker stated in his director’s report to the committee.
Hastings County will have the final say on the renewal at a future meeting.
(BROCK ORMOND)
