Health Minister and London MPP Deb Matthews announced some improvements by the province to London's emergency health care services.

In her announcement, she said there will be an additional 11-thousand-600 ambulance off-load nursing hours at LHSC, so patients that don't require urgent care can be treated as soon as they get to the hospital, which allows paramedics to leave and go to other calls.

It also ensures better access to doctors at St. Joe's by increasing the hours they are open.

Ambulance service is getting a boost through 50/50 cost sharing with the municipality.

Matthews says  "London area residents can be assured of access to high quality emergency and urgent care services when they need it. Today's commitment will help bolster the emergency services being delivered, while providing St. Joseph's Urgent Care Centre the opportunity to increase hours of operation in 2013."