Martin inquiry hears recommendations

A coroner's inquiry into the death of a Greely woman has heard about some major problems with ambulance service in rural parts of Ottawa.

Alice Martin, 75, died enroute to hospital after waiting 20 minutes for paramedics to arrive.

Through the inquiry the panel was told what happened that day. On Thursday, the city, coroner, and the paramedic's union presented recommendations aimed at fixing Ottawa's ambulance service.

The union made its case for hiring more papramedics — at least 14 — more dispatchers, buying newer technology and adding more training.

One thing they all agreed on was review of a provincial rule called policy 9.2. It dictates when and why an ambulance should be ordered to abandon a call and respond to a different situation.

"That sort of policy with respect to rerouting is crucial. That has to be, that has to be looked at," said David Carruthers, the lawyer representing the coroner.

The inquiry was told the ambulance crew responding to Alice Martin's home was told it was being rerouted to another call.

That led to the 20 minute wait. Martin died in the second ambulance before arriving at the hospital.

Judy Gannon, one of Martin's daughters, was in the hearing room on Thursday.

"Hopefully with her as an example, then nobody else is going to go through it. People aren't aware of what's going on, people aren't aware we don't have, we just assume the ambulances are there. They're not."

The five members of the jury will now produce a list of recommendations. It could be issued as early as next week.