The number of calls for ambulances is increasing. (CBC)

P.E.I.'s director of medical programs is looking for another $1 million for ambulance service in next month's provincial budget.

There are 16 ambulances on P.E.I., with almost half of them based in Queen's County. While the ambulances are based in different areas, the dispatch system covers the province, and the ambulances can go where they are needed.

Dr. Richard Wedge, director of medical programs for the province, told CBC News Friday the ambulances handle about 11,000 calls a year, and that number is rising.

"Over the last several months, we have noticed that the number of calls continues to increase, especially in the greater Charlottetown area," said Wedge.

Wedge has asked the government to add another ambulance in Charlottetown. The price tag for one, fully staffed 24 hours a day, is about $600,000 a year.

Charlottetown is not the only area of the province with difficulties. Prince County is also finding resources tight, particularly on Sundays.

"What's happening in Summerside is a lot of out-of-province transfers occurring on Sunday in preparation for things like heart surgery on Monday mornings in Halifax," said Wedge.

'Resources are stretched quite tight'

"The resources are stretched quite tight on Sundays."

Wedge doesn't feel another ambulance is needed to solve this problem, but he is looking for more paramedics.

At the other end of the province, Kings County needs more overnight service, said Wedge, which would require turning one part-time paramedic crew to full time.

The request for all these additional services would cost more than $1 million.

Still, Wedge said that may not be enough. On April 1, the government will start paying for emergency ambulance rides for seniors. He expects that will further increase the number of calls for ambulances.

P.E.I.'s paramedics called for more ambulances in the province earlier this month, saying response times are too long.