Medical Priority Dispatch System Now Used for 9-1-1 Calls in Durham Region

The Region of Durham Paramedic Services and the Oshawa Central Ambulance Communications Centre began using the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) on May 21, 2025, according to an official statement from the Region of Durham.

This change modifies the process for assessing 9-1-1 medical emergencies and how paramedic resources are sent out in Durham Region. The update is relevant to local residents as it affects what happens when they make a medical emergency call and how ambulances respond.

According to the Region, Ambulance Communications Officers will now ask callers more detailed questions to determine the nature and urgency of each medical emergency. The new MPDS system replaces the Dispatch Priority Card Index, which the Region stated often resulted in non-urgent calls being given higher priority and caused strain on paramedic services.

Under MPDS, only the most time-sensitive, life-threatening emergencies will receive a lights-and-siren ambulance response, the Region reported. Lower-priority calls will be managed with dispatch timing chosen according to the urgency, and Ambulance Communications Officers will follow up with callers to assess if the patient's condition has changed and adjust the priority as needed.

The Region also stated that individuals calling 9-1-1 for non-life-threatening issues may experience longer wait times for ambulance service, depending on their situation. MPDS is already used in other Ontario regions, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, and Kingston. The Oshawa Central Ambulance Communications Centre will continue to manage dispatch in Durham Region and allocate paramedic services as determined by the new system.