Medical Dispatch System

On November 5, 2025, Brant/Brantford Paramedic Services and the Hamilton Central Ambulance Communications Centre will introduce the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) for all 911 medical calls in our area.

On this page:

• What is the Medical Priority Dispatch System?
• What to expect when you call 911 after November 15
• Why this change matters? 
• Our commitment to the community 

What is the Medical Priority Dispatch System? 

MPDS is a structured, medically approved system that helps Emergency Medical Dispatchers quickly identify the urgency of a call. By asking more detailed questions, dispatchers can prioritize patients based on their needs and send the right resources to the right patients at the right time.

This new evidence-based system is designed to help us reach the most critically ill patients as quickly as possible. 

This system also includes quality assurance measures to ensure patients receive the highest standard of care, while those who can safely wait do so without risk.

MPDS is already in use in more than 35,000 ambulance communication centres across 46 countries, including Ontario communities such as Ottawa, Peel, Halton, York, Niagara, and Toronto. It will soon become the provincial standard, and we are excited for its implementation in the County of Brant and the City of Brantford.

What to Expect When You Call 911 After November 15

If you call 911 for a medical emergency after November 15, you may notice some important changes:

• More detailed questions
  Dispatchers will ask additional questions about the patient’s condition and exact location, especially in life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, trauma, or loss of consciousness.

• Paramedics dispatched right away
  Even while you are still answering questions, paramedics will already be on the way to you.

• Prioritized response times
  If the situation is not life-threatening, you may experience longer wait times so that paramedics remain available for those who need immediate critical care.

• Ongoing support from dispatchers
  Dispatchers are undergoing extensive training with MPDS and will stay in contact with you, providing support and instructions until help arrives.

Why This Change Matters

The goal of MPDS is simple: to save more lives and make sure patients receive the right care, at the right time.

By prioritizing calls based on urgency, MPDS will:

• Ensure faster care for patients in life-threatening situations

• Keep paramedics more available for emergencies

• Safely manage non-urgent calls without taking resources away from critical needs

• Support dispatchers with a proven, structured system used worldwide

Our Commitment to the Community

Our dedication to serving the community has not changed. If you call 911, we will be there.

The difference with MPDS is that life-threatening emergencies will get immediate priority, while less urgent situations may wait a little longer—always with the assurance that your safety is our top priority.