Durham County residents are experiencing delays in receiving critical care, with some waiting up to an hour for ambulances to arrive.
The reason is a shortage of people and ambulances, Interim Chief Paramedic Officer Gordon Smith told ABC 11.
is grappling with significant challenges in emergency response services due to a shortage of EMS personnel, ambulances, and fire trucks. Residents are
Smith said the EMS is prioritizing critical calls, collaborating with neighboring counties for assistance, and allowing current staff to work overtime. However, he said, the toll this takes on workers is not sustainable.
The current response time averages about eight minutes for serious calls, but is much longer for non-emergency calls. Smith said the county is developing a three-year plan to resolve these issues that calls for 48 additional full-time positions and six additional ambulances.
The county’s emergency response challenges come amid broader staffing shortages impacting EMS and fire services nationwide.
