KZN Health MEC launches 136 brand new ambulances

03 December 2019

The MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, has officially handed over 136 brand new, fully-equipped and fit for purpose ambulances to the KwaZulu-Natal Emergencies Medical Services (EMS) at eThethe area KwaDukuza, Ward 20 under ILembe District.

Speaking at the launch, MEC Simelane-Zulu said the Department of health is ready for the December holidays.

"We are here to deliver ambulances that we have bought for this financial year. It's an indication to the people and community that we are ready for the festive season in particular. Although they are not meant for the festive season, they are ambulances that are meant to upgrade and add onto the vehicles that we already have."

But as we know, December is called silly season for a reason, and at times, accidents that could've been avoided occur and there is an increased need for ambulances."

One hundred and six ambulances are Rapid Ambulance Services (fully-equipped) and 30 are Patients Transport Services buses. The Patient Transport Services ( Non-emergencies and Planned Patient Transport) play a critical role in helping disadvantaged people access health services across the Province of KwaZulu-Natal.

The MEC said the government is doing all in its power to provide more ambulances.

"In regards to the shortage of ambulances throughout the province, the delivery of these ambulances is an indication that we are ready and we are steadily growing our fleet. We know that we don't have as much as we are suppose to have, but we are working on it as the government because the reality is that we will never be able to actually purchase all the vehicles at once.

Seeing as we have bought ambulances for this financial year, we are going to buy more in the next financial year." she added.

The unveiling of the new ambulances will improve government's ability to come to the aid of people in emergency situations within "golden hour" including in far-flung areas where the terrain is rough.

Due to the different functions provided by KZN EMS there are different types of vehicles used. These include:

• Ambulances* (each staffed with two paramedics), these vehicles are specifically designed and have been converted, so that a stretcher and medical equipment can be carried on board. Some of these vehicle are 4x4 vehicles.
• Rapid response vehicles* (normally staffed with one paramedic, but there is space for a second crew member), these are non-patient carrying vehicles but have a full set of medical equipment on board. Response vehicles are normally staffed with advanced life support paramedics and are used to respond rapidly to a scene and start treating a patient, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Due to the rural environment that KZN EMS operates in, mostly 4x4 vehicles are used.
• Rescue vehicles*(staffed by one or two rescue medics) these vehicles do not carry patients but have basic medical equipment on board. These vehicles are specially designed and configured, to carry the heavy rescue equipment. The most well-known rescue equipment carried is the “jaws of life”, a collective term for several pieces of hydraulic rescue equipment. However this is not the only equipment carried on these vehicles, emergency lighting, rope rescue equipment and other pieces of rescue equipment are carried.
• Patient transport buses* (staffed with a driver and patient attendant), these are standard buses ranging from 16-60 seats, used to transport patients to planned appointments. A new addition to the fleet of transport buses are buses that have had some of the rear seats removed and replaced with stretchers. A hydraulic lift at the back of the bus lifts the patients on stretchers into the bus.

KwaZulu-Natal's EMS unit is the largest emergency medical service in the country, operating more than 300 ambulances and having more than 2500 dedicated paramedics in its employ. The unveiling of the new ambulances for this component does not come cheap but is crucial as the festive season is upon us.