Concerns over KZN ambulance shortage ahead of festive season
Private sector paramedics say the shortage of
ambulances in the public sector has led to increased pressure on them to fill the gap.
KZN-based Medi Response Paramedics has been reacting to the Health Minister's revelations in Parliament recently.
Joe Phaahla said the country has fewer than half the number of ambulances it needs to respond to the population's health needs.
At the moment, there's a shortage of 3 401 ambulances.
More than 900 vehicles aren't being used, as they are in need of maintenance or repairs after crashes.
KZN's public ambulance shortage stands at 742.
A little over 430 public ambulances are on the road.
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Medi Response spokesperson Paul Herbst says the challenge is affecting operations in the province.
"The festive season on the KZN north coast is extremely busy and we try to assist the private and public sectors."
We have agreements with KwaDukuza Municipality and we try to help them out when it comes to beach rescues and any incidents that happen on the beach with non-medical aid or private patients and it just puts a massive strain on our business," he said.
Herbst says he hopes the Health Department adds more emergency vehicles to its fleet before the start of what's expected to be a busy festive season.
"We are disappointed. We thought we can also lean on the public sector, especially when it comes to motor vehicle collisions and things like that where there are mass casualties.
“When it comes to bus and taxi accidents, people are leaving the city to go home to the farms and homesteads and we have massive collisions where we rely on the public sector to help us."
